ZIAH  COFFIN 


JOSEPH  C.LINCOLN 


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KEZIAH   COFFIN 


THE  WORKS  OF  JOSEPH  C.  LINCOLN 


CY  WHITTAKER'S  PLACE 

MR.  PRATT  "  CAP'N  ERI ; 

PARTNERS  OF  THE  TIDE 

THE  "  OLD  HOME  HOUSE  " 

CAPE  COD  BALLADS 


\ 


'"All  right,'  she  said;  'then  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  take  it.' 

[Page  88.] 


KEZIAH  COFFIN 


BY 

JOSEPH    C.    LINCOLN 

AUTHOR    OF    "  CY   WHITTSfKEK'S    PLACE," 
"  CAP'N    ERI,"    ETC. 


WITH    ILLUSTRATIONS    BY 

WALLACE    MORGAN 


D.     APPLETON    AND    COMPANY 
NEW  YORK   AND    LONDON:    MCMIX 


COPYRIGHT,  1909,  BY 
D.   APPLETON   AND   COMPANY 


Published  Srpti-nibcr,  1009 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I. — IN  WHICH  KEZIAH  HEARS  OF  Two  PROPOSALS  AND 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  A  THIRD    ....  i 

II. — IN  WHICH  KEZIAH  UNEARTHS  A  PROWLER           .  23 

III. — IN  WHICH   KEZIAH  ASSUMES  A  GUARDIANSHIP  42 
IV. — IN  WHICH  KEZIAH'S  PARSON  DECIDES  TO  RUN  IT 

BLINDFOLD    .                       60 

V. — IN    WHICH    THE    PARSON    CRUISES    IN    STRANGE 

WATERS 74 

VI. — IN  WHICH  OLD  FRIENDS  MEET       ....  95 

VII. — IN  WHICH  CAPTAIN  NAT  PICKS  UP  A  DERELICT   .  116 
VIII. — IN  WHICH  THE  PARSON  AND  MR.  PEPPER  DECLARE 

THEIR  INDEPENDENCE 128 

IX. — IN  WHICH   Miss  DANIELS  DETERMINES  TO   FIND 

OUT 149 

X. — IN  WHICH  KEZIAH'S  TROUBLES  MULTIPLY    .        .  164 

XI. — IN  WHICH  CAPEN  EBEN  RECEIVES  A  CALLER      .  182 

XII. — IN  WHICH  CAPTAIN  EBEN  MAKES  PORT       .        .  198 

XIII. — IN  WHICH  KEZIAH  BREAKS  THE  NEWS         .        .  213 

XIV. — IN  WHICH  THE  SEA  MIST  SAILS      ....  233 

XV. — IN  WHICH  TRUMET  TALKS  OF  CAPTAIN  NAT       .  250 

XVI.— IN    WHICH    THE     MINISTER    BOARDS    THE     SAN 

JOSE 269 

v 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XVII. — IN  WHICH  EBENEZER  CAPEN  is  SURPRISED         .  287 

XVIII. — IN  WHICH  KEZIAH  DECIDES  TO  FIGHT  .       .       .  305 

XIX. — IN  WHICH  A  RECEPTION  is  CALLED  OFF      .       .  324 

XX. — IN  WHICH  THE  MINISTER  RECEIVES  A  LETTER   .  344 

XXI. — IN  WHICH  MR.  STONE  WASHES  His  HANDS        .  362 

XXII. — IN  WHICH  KEZIAH'S     PARSON     PREACHES    ONCE 

MORE 373 


VI 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 


"All  right,'  she  said,  'then  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  take 
It  ........  Frontispiece 

"You  sassy — Get  down  off  that  chair  and  out  of  this  house'"        18 
"I'm — I'm  sure  I  beg  your  pardon,  ladies,'  he  stammered"       38 

"Say/  he  cried,  'I'm  cruisin'  your  way;  better  get  aboard, 

hadn't  you?" 120 

'Rising  to  peer  over  the  bushes  at  the  minister  and  Grace"      178 
"Mrs.  Coffin,  stand  away  from  that  door"  .        .         .      220 

"You  can't  go  in,  Mrs.  Coffin,'  said  Thoph  Black"    .         .      308 

"He  may  be  minister  of  the  Regular  church   .   .   .   but  he'll 

never  marry  her,  now'" 320 


Til 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 


CHAPTER    I 

IN  WHICH  KEZIAH  HEARS  TWO  PROPOSALS  AND  THE 
BEGINNING    OF    A    THIRD 

TRUMET  in  a  fog;  a  fog  blown  in  during 
the  night  by  the  wind  from  the  wide  Atlan 
tic.  So  wet  and  heavy  that  one  might  taste 
the  salt  in  it.  So  thick  that  houses  along  the  main 
road  were  but  dim  shapes  behind  its  gray  drapery, 
and  only  the  gates  and  fences  of  the  front  yards  were 
plainly  in  evidence  to  the  passers-by.  The  beach 
plum  and  bayberry  bushes  on  the  dunes  were  span 
gled  with  beady  drops.  The  pole  on  Cannon  Hill, 
where  the  beacon  was  hoisted  when  the  packet  from 
Boston  dropped  anchor  in  the  bay,  was  shiny  and 
slippery.  The  new  weathervane,  a  gilded  whale,  pre 
sented  to  the  "  Regular  "  church  by  Captain  Zebe- 
dee  Mayo,  retired  whaler,  swam  in  a  sea  of  cloud. 
The  lichened  eaves  of  the  little  "  Come-Outer " 
chapel  dripped  at  sedate  intervals.  The  brick  walk 
leading  to  the  door  of  Captain  Elkanah  Daniels's  fine 
residence  held  undignified  puddles  in  its  hollows. 
And,  through  the  damp  stillness,  the  muttered  growl 
of  the  surf,  three  miles  away  at  the  foot  of  the  sandy 
bluffs  by  the  lighthouse,  sounded  ominously. 

Directly  opposite  Captain  Elkanah's  front  gate, 
on  the  other  side  of  the  main  road,  stood  the  little 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

story-and-a-half  house,  also  the  captain's  property, 
which  for  fourteen  years  had  been  tenanted  by  Mrs. 
Keziah  Coffin  and  her  brother,  Solomon  Hall,  the 
shoemaker.  But  Solomon  had,  the  month  before, 
given  up  his  fight  with  debt  and  illness  and  was  sleep 
ing  quietly  in  Trumet's  most  populous  center,  the 
graveyard.  And  Keziah,  left  alone,  had  decided 
that  the  rent  and  living  expenses  were  more  than  her 
precarious  earnings  as  a  seamstress  would  warrant, 
and,  having  bargained  with  the  furniture  dealer  in 
Wellmouth  for  the  sale  of  her  household  effects,  was 
now  busy  getting  them  ready  for  the  morrow,  when 
the  dealer's  wagon  was  to  call.  She  was  going  to 
Boston,  where  a  distant  and  condescending  rich  rela 
tive  had  interested  himself  to  the  extent  of  finding 
her  a  place  as  sewing  woman  in  a  large  tailoring 
establishment. 

The  fog  hung  like  a  wet  blanket  over  the  house 
and  its  small  yard,  where  a  few  venerable  pear  trees, 
too  conservative  in  their  old  age  to  venture  a  bud 
even  though  it  was  almost  May,  stood  bare  and  for 
lorn.  The  day  was  dismal.  The  dismantled  dining 
room,  its  tables  and  chairs  pushed  into  a  corner,  and 
its  faded  ingrain  carpet  partially  stripped  from  the 
floor,  was  dismal,  likewise.  Considering  all  things, 
one  might  have  expected  Keziah  herself  to  be  even 
more  dismal.  But,  to  all  outward  appearances,  she 
was  not.  A  large  portion  of  her  thirty-nine  years  of 
life  had  been  passed  under  a  wet  blanket,  so  to  speak, 
and  she  had  not  permitted  the  depressing  covering 
to  shut  out  more  sunshine  than  was  absolutely  neces 
sary.  ''If  you  can't  get  cream,  you  might  as  well 
learn  to  love  your  sasser  of  skim  milk,"  said  practical , 
Keziah. 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

She  was  on  her  knees,  her  calico  dress  sleeves, 
patched  and  darned,  but  absolutely  clean,  rolled 
back,  uncovering  a  pair  of  plump,  strong  arms,  a 
saucer  of  tacks  before  her,  and  a  tack  hammer  with 
a  claw  head  in  her  hand.  She  was  taking  up  the  car 
pet.  Grace  Van  Home,  Captain  Eben  Hammond's 
ward,  who  had  called  to  see  if  there  was  anything  she 
might  do  to  help,  was  removing  towels,  tablecloths, 
and  the  like  from  the  drawers  in  a  tall  "  high-boy," 
folding  them  and  placing  them  in  an  old  and  bat 
tered  trunk.  The  pair  had  been  discussing  the  sub 
ject  which  all  Trumet  had  discussed  for  three  weeks, 
namely,  the  "  calling"  to  the  pastorate  of  the  "  Reg 
ular  "  church  of  the  Rev.  John  Ellery,  the  young 
divinity  student,  who  was  to  take  the  place  of  old 
Parson  Langley,  minister  in  the  parish  for  over 
thirty  years.  Discussion  in  the  village  had  now 
reached  a  critical  point,  for  the  Reverend  John  was 
expected  by  almost  any  coach.  In  those  days,  the 
days  of  the  late  fifties,  the  railroad  down  the  Cape 
extendecl  only  as  far  as  Sandwich;  passengers  made 
the  rest  of  their  journey  by  stage.  Many  came 
direct  from  the  city  by  the  packet,  the  little  schooner, 
but  Mr.  Ellery  had  written  that  he  should  probably 
come  on  the  coach. 

"  They  say  he's  very  nice-looking,"  remarked 
Miss  Van  Home  soberly,  but  with  a  mischievous 
glance  under  her  dark  lashes  at  Keziah.  The  lady 
addressed  paused  long  enough  to  transfer  several 
tacks  from  the  floor  to  the  saucer,  and  then  made 
answer. 

"  Humph !  "  she  observed.  "  A  good  many 
years  ago  I  saw  a  theater  show  up  to  Boston.  Don't 
be  shocked;  those  circumstances  we  hear  so  much 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

tell  of — the  kind  you  can't  control — have  kept  me 
from  goin'  to  theaters  much,  even  if  I  wanted  to. 
But  I  did  see  this  entertainment,  and  a  fool  one  'twas, 
too,  all  singin'  instead  of  talkin' — op'ra,  I  believe 
they  called  it.  Well,  as  I  started  to  say,  one  of  the 
leadin'  folks  in  it  was  the  Old  Harry  himself,  and  he 
was  pretty  good-lookinV 

Grace  laughed,  even  though  she  had  been  some 
what  shocked. 

"  Why,  Aunt  Keziah !  "  she  exclaimed — those 
who  knew  Keziah  Coffin  best  usually  called  her  aunt, 
though  real  nephews  and  nieces  she  had  none —  "  why, 
Aunt  Keziah !  What  do  you  mean  by  comparing 
the — the  person  you  just  mentioned  with  a  min 
ister!  " 

"  Oh,  I  wasn't  comparin'  'em ;  I'll  leave  that  for 
you  Come-Outers  to  do.  Drat  this  carpet !  Seems's 
if  I  never  saw  such  long  tacks;  I  do  believe  whoever 
put  'em  down  drove  'em  clean  through  the  center  of 
the  earth  and  let  the  Chinymen  clinch  'em  on  t'other 
side.  I  haul  up  a  chunk  of  the  cellar  floor  with 
every  one.  Ah,  hum!  "  with  a  sigh,  "  I  cal'late  they 
ain't  any  more  anxious  to  leave  home  than  I  am. 
But,  far's  the  minister's  concerned,  didn't  I  hear  of 
your  Uncle  Eben  sayin'  in  prayer  meetin'  only  a 
fortni't  or  so  ago  that  all  hands  who  wa'n't  Come- 
Outers  were  own  children  to  Satan?  Mr.  Ellery  must 
take  after  his  father  some.  Surprising  ain't  it,  what 
a  family  the  old  critter's  got." 

The  girl  laughed  again.  For  one  brought  up, 
since  her  seventh  year,  in  the  strictest  of  Come-Outer 
families,  she  laughed  a  good  deal.  Many  Come- 
Outers  considered  it  wicked  to  laugh.  Yet  Grace 
did  it,  and  hers  was  a  laugh  pleasant  to  hear  and 

4 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

distinctly  pleasant  to  see.  It  made  her  prettier  than 
ever,  a  fact  which,  if  she  was  aware  of  it,  should 
have  been  an  additional  preventive,  for  to  be  pretty 
smacks  of  vanity.  Perhaps  she  wasn't  aware  of  it. 

"  What  do  you  think  Uncle  Eben  would  say  if 
he  heard  that?"  she  asked. 

"  Say  /  took  after  my  father,  too,  I  presume 
likely.  Does  your  uncle  know  you  come  here  to  see 
me  so  often?  And  call  me  '  aunt '  and  all  that?  " 

"  Of  course  he  does.  Aunt  Keziah,  you  mustn't 
think  Uncle  Eben  doesn't  see  the  good  in  people 
simply  because  they  don't  believe  as  he  does.  He's 
as  sweet  and  kind  as — 

"Who?  Eben  Hammond?  Land  sakes,  child, 
don't  I  know  it?  Cap'n  Eben's  the  salt  of  the  earth. 
I'm  a  Regular  and  always  have  been,  but  I'd  be  glad 
if  my  own  society  was  seasoned  with  a  few  like  him. 
'Twould  taste  better  to  me  of  a  Sunday."  She 
paused,  and  then  added  quizzically:  "What  d'you 
s'pose  Cap'n  Elkanah  and  the  rest  of  our  parish  com 
mittee  would  say  if  they  heard  that?" 

"Goodness  knows!  Still,  I'm  glad  to  hear  you 
say  it.  And  uncle  says  you  are  as  good  a  woman  as 
ever  lived.  He  thinks  you're  misled,  of  course,  but 
that  some  day  you'll  see  the  error  of  your  ways." 

"  Humph !  I'll  have  to  hurry  up  if  I  want  to 
see  'em  without  spectacles.  See  my  errors !  Land 
sakes !  much  as  I  can  do  to  see  the  heads  of  these 
tacks.  Takin'  up  carpets  is  as  hard  a  test  of  a  body's 
eyesight  as  'tis  of  their  religion." 

Her  companion  put  down  the  tablecloth  she  was 

folding  and  looked  earnestly  at  the  other  woman. 

To  an  undiscerning  eye  the  latter  would  have  looked 

much  as  she  always  did — plump  and  matronly,  with 

2  5 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

brown  hair  drawn  back  from  the  forehead  and  parted 
in  the  middle;  keen  brown  eyes  with  a  humorous 
twinkle  in  them — this  was  the  Keziah  Coffin  the  later 
generation  of  Trumet  knew  so  well. 

But  Grace  Van  Home,  who  called  her  aunt  and 
came  to  see  her  so  frequently,  while  her  brother  was 
alive  and  during  the  month  following  his  death, 
could  see  the  changes  which  the  month  had  wrought. 
She  saw  the  little  wrinkles  about  the  eyes  and  the 
lines  of  care  about  the  mouth,  the  tired  look  of  the 
whole  plucky,  workaday  New  England  figure.  She 
shook  her  head. 

"  Religion !  "  she  repeated.  "  I  do  believe,  Aunt 
Keziah,  that  you've  got  the  very  best  religion  of 
anybody  I  know.  I  don't  care  if  you  don't  belong 
to  our  church.  When  I  see  how  patient  you've  been 
and  how  cheerful  through  all  your  troubles,  it — 

Mrs.  Coffin  waved  the  hammer  deprecatingly. 
"There!  there!"  she  interrupted.  "I  guess  it's  a 
good  thing  I'm  goin'  away.  Here's  you  and  I  prais- 
in'  up  each  other's  beliefs,  just  as  if  that  wasn't  a 
crime  here  in  Trumet.  Sometimes  when  I  see  how 
the  two  societies  in  this  little  one-horse  place  row 
with  each  other,  I  declare  if  it  doesn't  look  as  if 
they'd  crossed  out  the  first  word  of  '  Love  your 
neighbor  '  and  wrote  in  '  Fight,'  instead.  Yet  I'm  a 
pretty  good  Regular,  too,  and  when  it  comes  to 
whoopin'  and  carryin'  on  like  the  Come-Outers,  I— 
Well!  well!  never  mind;  don't  begin  to  bristle  up. 
I  won't  say  another  word  about  religion.  Let's  pick 
the  new  minister  to  pieces.  Any  kind  of  a  Christian 
can  do  that." 

But  the  new  minister  was  destined  to  remain  un- 
dissected  that  morning,  in  that  house  at  least.  Grace 

6 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

was  serious  now  and  she  voiced  the  matter  which 
had  been  uppermost  in  her  mind  since  she  left  home. 

"  Aunt  Keziah,"  she  said,  "  why  do  you  go  away? 
What  makes  you?  Is  it  absolutely  necessary?" 

"  Why  do  I  go?  Why,  for  the  same  reason  that 
the  feller  that  was  hove  overboard  left  the  ship — 
'cause  I  can't  stay.  You've  got  to  have  vittles  and 
clothes,  even  in  Trumet,  and  a  place  to  put  your 
head  in  nights.  Long's  Sol  was  alive  and  could  do 
his  cobblin'  we  managed  to  get  along  somehow. 
What  I  could  earn  sewin'  helped,  and  we  lived  simple. 
But  when  he  was  taken  down  and  died,  the  doctor's 
bills  and  the  undertaker's  used  up  what  little  money 
I  had  put  by,  and  the  sewin'  alone  wouldn't  keep  a 
healthy  canary  in  bird  seed.  Dear  land  knows  I 
hate  to  leave  the  old  house  I've  lived  in  for  fourteen 
years  and  the  town  I  was  born  in,  but  I've  got  to, 
for  all  I  see.  Thank  mercy,  I  can  pay  Cap'n  Elkanah 
his  last  month's  rent  and  go  with  a  clear  conscience. 
I  won't  owe  anybody,  that's  a  comfort,  and  nobody 
will  owe  me;  though  I  could  stand  that,  I  guess," 
she  added,  prying  at  the  carpet  edge. 

"  I  don't  care !  "  The  girl's  dark  eyes  flashed 
indignantly.  "  I  think  it's  too  bad  of  Cap'n  Elkanah 
to  turn  you  out  when — 

"  Don't  talk  that  way.  He  ain't  turnin'  me  out. 
He  ain't  lettin'  houses  for  his  health  and  he'll  need 
the  money  to  buy  his  daughter's  summer  rigs.  She 
ain't  had  a  new  dress  for  a  month,  pretty  near,  and 
here's  a  young  and  good-lookin'  parson  heavin'  in 
sight.  Maybe  Cap'n  Elkanah  would  think  a  min 
ister  was  high-toned  enough  even  for  Annabel  to 
marry." 

"  He's   only  twenty-three,    they  say,"    remarked 
7 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Grace,  a  trifle  maliciously.  "  Perhaps  she'll  adopt 
him." 

Annabel  was  the  only  child  of  Captain  Elkanah 
Daniels,  who  owned  the  finest  house  in  town.  She 
was  the  belle  of  Trumet,  and  had  been  for  a  good 
many  years. 

Keziah  laughed. 

"Well,"  she  said,  "anyhow  I've  got  to  go. 
Maybe  I'll  like  Boston  first  rate,  you  can't  tell.  Or 
maybe  I  won't.  Ah,  hum !  'twouldn't  be  the  first 
thing  I've  had  to  do  that  I  didn't  like." 

Her  friend  looked  at  her. 

"  Aunt,"  she  said,  "  I  want  to  make  a  proposal 
to  you,  and  you  mustn't  be  cross  about  it." 

"A  proposal!  Sakes  alive!  What'll  I  say? 
'  This  is  so  sudden !  '  That's  what  Becky  Ryder,  up 
to  the  west  part  of  the  town,  said  when  Jim  Baker, 
the  tin  peddler,  happened  to  ask  her  if  she'd  ever 
thought  of  gettin'  married.  'O  James!  this  is  so 
sudden!  '  says  Becky.  Jim  said  afterwards  that  the 
suddenest  thing  about  it  was  the  way  he  cleared  out 
of  that  house.  And  he  never  called  there  after 
wards." 

Grace  smiled,  but  quickly  grew  grave. 

"  Now,  auntie,"  she  said,  "  please  listen.  I'm 
in  earnest.  It  seems  to  me  that  you  might  do  quite 
well  at  dressmaking  here  in  town,  if  you  had  a  little 
— well,  ready  money  to  help  you  at  the  start.  I've 
got  a  few  hundred  dollars  in  the  bank,  presents  from 
uncle,  and  my  father's  insurance  money.  I  should 
love  to  lend  it  to  you,  and  I  know  uncle  would— 

Mrs.  Coffin  interrupted  her. 

"  Cat's  foot!  "  she  exclaimed.  "  I  hope  I  haven't 
got  where  I  need  to  borrow  money  yet  a  while.  Thank 

8 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

you  just  as  much,  deary,  but  long's  I've  got  two 
hands  and  a  mouth,  I'll  make  the  two  keep  t'other 
reasonably  full,  I  wouldn't  wonder.  No,  I  shan't 
think  of  it,  so  don't  say  another  word.  No." 

The  negative  was  so  decided  that  Grace  was 
silenced.  Her  disappointment  showed  in  her  face, 
however,  and  Keziah  hastened  to  change  the  subject. 

"  How  do  you  know,"  she  observed,  "  but  what 
my  goin'  to  Boston  may  be  the  best  thing  that  ever 
happened  to  me?  You  can't  tell.  No  use  despairin', 
Annabel  ain't  given  up  hope  yet;  why  should  I? 
Hey  ?  Ain't  that  somebody  comin'  ?  " 

Her  companion  sprang  to  her  feet  and  ran  to 
the  window.  Then  she  broke  into  a  smothered 
laugh. 

"  Why,  it's  Kyan  Pepper !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  He 
must  be  coming  to  see  you,  Aunt  Keziah.  And  he's 
got  on  his  very  best  Sunday  clothes.  Gracious!  I 
must  be  going.  I  didn't  know  you  expected  callers." 

Keziah  dropped  the  tack  hammer  and  stood  up. 

"  Kyan !  "  she  repeated.  "  What  in  the  world 
is  that  old  idiot  comin'  here  for?  To  talk  about 
the  minister,  I  s'pose.  How  on  earth  did  Laviny 
ever  come  to  let  him  out  alone?  " 

Mr.  Pepper,  Mr.  Abishai  Pepper,  locally  called 
"Kyan"  (Cayenne)  Pepper  because  of  his  red 
hair  and  thin  red  side  whiskers,  was  one  of  Trumet's 
"  characters,"  and  in  his  case  the  character  was  weak. 
He  was  born  in  the  village  and,  when  a  youngster, 
had,  like  every  other  boy  of  good  family  in  the  com 
munity,  cherished  ambitions  for  a  seafaring  life. 
His  sister,  Lavinia,  ten  years  older  than  he,  who, 
after  the  death  of  their  parents,  had  undertaken  the 
job  of  "  bringing  up  "  her  brother,  did  not  sympa 

9 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

thize  with  these  ambitions.  Consequently,  when 
Kyan  ran  away  she  followed  him  to  Boston,  stalked 
aboard  the  vessel  where  he  had  shipped,  and  collared 
him,  literally  and  figuratively.  One  of  the  mates 
venturing  to  offer  objection,  Lavinia  turned  upon 
him  and  gave  him  a  piece  of  her  mind,  to  the  im 
mense  delight  of  the  crew  and  the  loungers  on  the 
wharf.  Then  she  returned  with  the  vagrant  to 
Trumet.  Old  Captain  Higgins,  who  skippered  the 
packet  in  those  days,  swore  that  Lavinia  never 
stopped  lecturing  her  brother  from  the  time  they 
left  Boston  until  they  dropped  anchor  behind  the 
breakwater. 

"  I  give  you  my  word  that  'twas  pretty  nigh  a 
stark  calm,  but  there  was  such  a  steady  stream  of 
language  pourin'  out  of  the  Pepper  stateroom  that 
the  draught  kept  the  sails  filled  all  the  way  home," 
asserted  Captain  Higgins. 

That  was  Kyan's  sole  venture,  so  far  as  sailoring 
was  concerned,  but  he  ran  away  again  when  he  was 
twenty-five.  This  time  he  returned  of  his  own  ac 
cord,  bringing  a  wife  with  him,  one  Evelyn  Gott 
of  Ostable.  Evelyn  could  talk  a  bit  herself,  and 
her  first  interview  with  Lavinia  ended  with  the  lat- 
ter's  leaving  the  house  in  a  rage,  swearing  never  to 
set  foot  in  it  again.  This  oath  she  broke  the  day  of 
her  sister-in-law's  funeral.  Then  she  appeared,  after 
the  ceremony,  her  baggage  on  the  wagon  with  her. 
The  bereaved  one,  who  was  sitting  on  the  front 
stoop  of  his  dwelling  with,  so  people  say,  a  most 
resigned  expression  on  his  meek  countenance,  looked 
up  and  saw  her. 

"  My  land!  Laviny,"  he  exclaimed,  turning  pale. 
"  Where'd  you  come  from?  " 

10 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

"  Never  mind  where  I  come  from,"  observed 
his  sister  promptly.  '  You  just  be  thankful  I've 
come.  If  ever  a  body  needed  some  one  to  take  care 
of  'em,  it's  you.  You  can  tote  my  things  right  in," 
she  added,  turning  to  her  grinning  driver,  "  and  you, 
'Bishy,  go  right  in  with  'em.  The  idea  of  your  settin' 
outside  takin'  it  easy  when  your  poor  wife  ain't  been 
buried  more'n  an  hour!  " 

"  But — but — Laviny,"  protested  poor  Kyan, 
speaking  the  truth  unwittingly,  "  I  couldn't  take  it 
easy  afore  she  was  buried,  could  I  ?  " 

"  Go  right  in,"  was  the  answer.     "  March!  " 

Abishai  marched,  and  had  marched  under  his 
sister's  orders  ever  since.  She  kept  house  for  him, 
and  did  it  well,  but  her  one  fear  was  that  some  female 
might  again  capture  him,  and  she  watched  him  with 
an  eagle  eye.  He  was  the  town  assessor  and  tax 
collector,  but  when  he  visited  dwellings  containing 
single  women  or  widows,  Lavinia  always  accom 
panied  him,  "  to  help  him  in  his  figgerin',"  she -said. 

Consequently,  when  he  appeared,  unchaperoned, 
on  the  walk  leading  to  the  side  door  of  the  Cof 
fin  homestead,  Keziah  and  her  friend  were  sur 
prised. 

"  He's  dressed  to  kill,"  whispered  Grace,  at  the 
window.  "Even  his  tall  hat;  and  in  this  fog!  I 
do  believe  he's  coming  courting,  Aunt  Keziah." 

"  Humph !  "  was  the  ungracious  answer.  "  He's 
come  to  say  good-by,  I  s'pose,  and  to  find  out  where 
I'm  goin'  and  how  much  pay  I'm  goin'  to  get  and  if 
my  rent's  settled,  and  a  few  other  little  things  that 
ain't  any  of  his  business.  Laviny  put  him  up  to  it, 
you  see.  She'll  be  along  pretty  quick.  Well,  I'll 
fix  him  so  he  won't  talk  much.  He  can  help  us  take 

II 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

down  that  stovepipe.  I  said  'twas  a  job  for  a  man, 
and  a  half  one's  better  than  none —  Why,  how  d'ye 
do,  'Bishy?  Come  right  in.  Pretty  thick  outside, 
isn't  it?" 

Mr.  Pepper  entered  diffidently. 

"  Er — er — how  d'ye  do,  Keziah?"  he  stam 
mered.  "  I  thought  I'd  just  run  in  a  minute 
and- 

"  Yes,  yes.  Glad  to  see  you.  Take  off  your  hat. 
My  sakes!  it's  pretty  wet.  How  did  Laviny  come  to 
let  you —  I  mean  how'd  you  come  to  wear  a  beaver 
such  a  mornin's  this?  " 

Kyan  removed  the  silk  hat  and  inspected  its  limp 
grandeur  ruefully. 

«I_I_  he  began.  "Well,  the  fact  is,  I 
come  out  by  myself.  You  see,  Laviny's  gone  up  to 
Sarah  B.'s  to  talk  church  doin's.  I — I — well,  I 
kind  of  wanted  to  speak  with  you  about  somethin', 
Keziah,  so —  Oh !  I  didn't  see  you,  Gracie.  Good 
mornin'." 

He  didn't  seem  overjoyed  to  see  Miss  Van  Home, 
as  it  was.  In  fact,  he  reddened  perceptibly  and 
backed  toward  the  door.  The  girl,  her  eyes  twink 
ling,  took  up  her  jacket  and  hat. 

"  Oh!  I'm  not  going  to  stop,  Mr.  Pepper,"  she 
said.  "  I  was  only  helping  Aunt  Keziah  a  little, 
that's  all.  I  must  run  on  now." 

"  Run  on — nonsense !  "  declared  Keziah  deci 
sively.  '  You're  goin'  to  stay  right  here  and  help 
us  get  that  stovepipe  down.  And  'Bishy'll  help,  too. 
Won't  you,  'Bish?" 

The  stovepipe  was  attached  to  the  "  air-tight  " 
in  the  dining  room.  It — the  pipe — rose  perpendic 
ularly  for  a  few  feet  and  then  extended  horizontally, 

12 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

over  the  high-boy,  until  it  entered  the  wall.  Kyan 
looked  at  it  and  then  at  his  "  Sunday  clothes." 

"  Why,  I'd  be  glad  to,  of  course,"  he  declared 
with  dubious  enthusiasm.  "  But  I  don't  know's  I'll 
have  time.  Perhaps  I'd  better  come  later  and  do  it. 
Laviny,  she 

"  Oh,  Laviny  can  spare  you  for  a  few  minutes,  I 
guess;  'specially  as  she  don't  know  you're  out.  Bet 
ter  take  your  coat  off,  hadn't  you  ?  Grace,  fetch  one 
of  those  chairs  for  Ky — for  'Bishy  to  stand  in." 

Grace  obediently  brought  the  chair.  It  hap 
pened  to  be  the  one  with  a  rickety  leg,  but  its  owner 
was  helping  the  reluctant  Abishai  remove  the  long- 
tailed  blue  coat  which  had  been  his  wedding  garment 
and  had  adorned  his  person  on  occasions  of  ceremony 
ever  since.  She  did  not  notice  the  chair. 

"  It's  real  good  of  you  to  offer  to  help,"  she 
said.  "  Grace  and  I  didn't  hardly  dast  to  try  it  alone. 
That  pipe's  been  up  so  long  that  I  wouldn't  wonder 
if  'twas  chock-full  of  soot.  If  you're  careful,  though, 
I  don't  believe  you'll  get  any  on  you.  Never  mind 
the  floor;  I'm  goin'  to  wash  that  before  I  leave." 

Reluctantly,  slowly,  the  unwilling  Mr.  Pepper 
suffered  himself  to  be  led  to  the  chair.  He  mounted 
it  and  gingerly  took  hold  of  the  pipe. 

"  Better  loosen  it  at  the  stove  hole  first,"  advised 
Keziah.  "  What  was  it  you  wanted  to  see  me  about, 
'Bish?" 

"  Oh,  nothin',  nothin',"  was  the  hasty  response. 
"  Nothin'  of  any  account — that  is  to  say — 

He  turned  redder  than  ever  and  wrenched  at  the 
pipe.  It  loosened  at  its  lower  end  and  the  wires 
holding  it  in  suspension  shook. 

"  I    guess,"    observed    the    lady    of    the    house, 

13 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  that  you'd  better  move  that  chest  of  drawers  out 
so's  you  can  get  behind  it.  Grace,  you  help  me. 
There  !  that's  better.  Now  move  your  chair." 

Kyan  stepped  from  the  chair  and  moved  the  lat 
ter  to  a  position  between  the  high-boy  and  the  wall. 
Then  he  remounted  and  gripped  the  pipe  in  the 
middle  of  its  horizontal  section. 

"  Seems  to  stick  in  the  chimney  there,  don't  it?  " 
queried  Keziah.  "Wiggle  it  back  and  forth;  that 
ought  to  loosen  it.  What  was  it  you  wanted  to  say, 
'Bish?" 

Apparently,  Mr.  Pepper  had  nothing  to  say. 
The  crimson  tide  had  reached  his  ears,  which,  always 
noticeable  because  of  their  size  and  spread,  were  now 
lit  up  like  a  schooner's  sails  at  sunset.  His  hands 
trembled  on  the  pipe. 

"  Nothin',  nothin',  I  tell  you,"  he  faltered.  "  I 
— I  just  run  in  to  say  how  d'ye  do,  that's  all." 

"  Really,  I  think  I'd  better  be  going,"  said 
Grace,  glancing  from  Kyan's  embarrassed  face  to 
that  of  the  unsuspecting  Mrs.  Coffin.  "  I'm  afraid 
I'm  in  the  way." 

"No,  no!"  shouted  the  occupant  of  the  chair. 
"  No,  no,  you  ain't!  " 

"  But  I'm  afraid  I  am.  And  they'll  be  expecting 
me  at  home.  Aunt  Keziah,  I— 

"  Don't  be  in  such  a  hurry,"  interrupted  Keziah. 
"  Does  stick  in  the  chimney,  don't  it?  Tell  you  what 
you  can  do,  Grace;  you  can  go  in  the  woodshed  and 
fetch  the  hammer  that's  in  the  table  drawer.  Hurry 
up,  that's  a  good  girl." 

Kyan  protested  that  he  did  not  need  the  hammer, 
but  his  protest  was  unheeded.  With  one  more  glance 
at  the  couple,  Grace  departed  from  the  kitchen,  biting 

H 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

her  lips.  She  shut  the  door  carefully  behind  her. 
Mr.  Pepper  labored  frantically  with  the  pipe. 

"  No  use  to  shake  it  any  more  till  you  get  the 
hammer,"  advised  Keziah.  "  Might's  well  talk 
while  you're  waitin'.  What  was  it  you  wanted  to 
tell  me?" 

Abishai  drew  one  hand  across  his  forehead,  leav 
ing  a  decorative  smooch  of  blacking  on  his  perspiring 
countenance.  He  choked,  swallowed,  and  then,  with 
a  look  at  the  closed  door,  seemed  to  reach  a  desperate 
resolve. 

"  Keziah,"  he  whispered  hurriedly,  "  you've 
known  me  quite  a  spell,  ain't  you?  " 

"  Known  you?  Known  you  ever  since  you  were 
born,  pretty  nigh.  What  of  it?  " 

"  Yes,  yes.  And  I've  known  you,  you  know. 
Fact  is,  we've  known  each  other." 

"  Hear  the  man!  Land  sakes !  don't  everybody 
in  Trumet  know  everybody  else?  What  are  you 
drivin'  at?  " 

"  Keziah,  you're  a  single  woman." 

His  companion  let  go  of  the  chair,  which  she 
had  been  holding  in  place,  and  stepped  back. 

"I'm  a  single  woman?"  she  repeated  sharply. 
"What  do  you  mean  by  that?  Did — did  anybody 
say  I  wasn't?  " 

"No,  no!  'Course  not.  But  you're  a  widow, 
so  you  be  single,  you  know,  and — 

"  Well?  Did  you  think  I  was  twins?  Get  down 
off  there  this  minute.  You've  gone  crazy.  I  thought 
so  when  I  saw  that  beaver.  Either  that  or  you've 
been  drinkin'.  Grace !  What  does  make  her  so  long 
gettin'  that  hammer?  " 

Finding  the   hammer  did  seem  to  take   a   long 

15 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

time.  There  was  no  sound  from  the  kitchen.  Kyan, 
steadying  himself  with  one  hand  on  the  pipe,  waved 
the  other  wildly. 

uS-s-sh!  s-sh-h!"  he  hissed.  "Hush!  be  still! 
Don't  get  her  in  here.  Keziah,  you're  single  and  so 
am  I.  You  ain't  got  nobody  to  take  care  of  you 
and  I  ain't,  neither — that  is,  I  don't  want  to  be  took 
care  of — I  mean,  I've  been  took  care  of  too  much." 

Mrs.  Coffin  took  another  step  in  the  direction  of 
the  kitchen. 

"  He  is  loony!  "  she  exclaimed  under  her  breath. 

a  T >» 

"  No,  no !  I  ain't  loony.  I  want  to  make  a  pro 
posal  to  you.  I  want  to  see  if  you  won't  marry  me. 
I'm  sick  of  Laviny.  Let's  you  and  me  settle  down 
together.  I  could  have  some  peace  then.  And  I 
think  a  whole  lot  of  you,  too,"  he  added,  apparently 
as  an  afterthought. 

Keziah's  face  was  red  now,  and  growing  redder 
every  instant. 

"Kyan  Pepper!"  she  cried  in  amazed  incredu 
lity.  "  Kyan  Pepper,  do  you — 

"Hurry  up!  "  pleaded  Abishai,  in  agitated  im 
patience.  "  Say  yes  quick.  She'll  be  back  in  a 
minute." 

"  Say  yes!    Why,  you ' 

"  Don't  stop  to  argue,  Keziah.  I've  got  'most 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  the  bank.  Laviny  keeps 
the  pass  book  in  her  bureau,  but  you  could  get  it  from 
her.  I  own  my  house.  I'm  a  man  of  good  character. 
You're  poor,  but  I  don't  let  that  stand  in  the  way. 
Anyhow,  you're  a  first-rate  housekeeper.  And  I 
really  do  think  an  awful  lot  of  you." 

Mrs.  Coffin  stepped  no  farther  in  the  direction 
16 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

of  the  kitchen.  Instead,  she  strode  toward  the 
rickety  chair  and  its  occupant.  Kyan  grasped  the 
pipe  with  both  hands. 

"  You  poor — miserable — impudent—  "  began  the 
lady. 

"  Why,  Keziah,  don't  you  want  to?  "  He  spoke 
as  if  the  possibility  of  a  refusal  had  never  entered  his 
mind.  "  I  cal'lated  you'd  be  glad.  You  wouldn't 
have  to  go  away  then,  nor —  My  soul  and  body ! 
some  one's  knockin'  at  the  door!  And  this  dummed 
pipe's  fetched  loose!  " 

The  last  sentence  was  a  smothered  shriek.  Ke 
ziah  heeded  not.  Neither  did  she  heed  the  knock  at 
the  door.  Her  hands  were  opening  and  closing  con 
vulsively. 

"Be  glad!"  she  repeated.     "Glad  to  marry  a 
good-for-nothin'  sand-peep  like  you !      You  sassy— 
Get  down  off  that  chair  and  out  of  this  house !     Get 
down  this  minute !  " 

"  I  can't !  This  stovepipe's  loose,  I  tell  you ! 
Be  reason'ble,  Keziah.  Do- — don't  you  touch  me ! 
I'll  fall  if  you  do.  Pl-e-ase,  Keziah! —  O  Lordy! 
I  knew  it.  Lawny!  " 

The  door  opened.  On  the  threshold,  arms 
akimbo  and  lips  set  tight,  stood  Lavinia  Pepper. 
Her  brother's  knees  gave  way;  in  their  collapse  they 
struck  the  chair  back;  the  rickety  leg  wabbled.  Kyan 
grasped  at  the  pipe  to  save  himself  and,  the  next 
moment,  chair,  sections  of  stovepipe,  and  Mr.  Pep 
per  disappeared  with  a  mighty  crash  behind  the 
high-boy.  A  cloud  of  soot  arose  and  obscured  the 
view. 

Keziah,  too  indignant  even  to  laugh,  glared  at 
the  wreck.  In  the  doorway  of  the  kitchen  Grace  Van 

17 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Home,  hammer  in  hand,  leaned  against  the  jamb, 
her  handkerchief  at  her  mouth  and  tears  in  her  eyes. 
Lavinia,  majestic  and  rigid,  dominated  the  scene. 
From  behind  the  high-boy  came  coughs,  sneezes,  and 
emphatic  ejaculations. 

Miss  Pepper  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  Abishai  Pepper,"  she  commanded,  "  come  out 
of  that  this  minute." 

Her  answer  was  a  tremendous  sneeze.  Then 
from  the  dusky  cloud  by  the  wall  sounded  a  voice 
feebly  protesting. 

"  Now,  Laviny,"  began  poor  Kyan,  "  I  never  in 
my  life- 

"  Do  you  hear  me?    Come  out  of  that!  " 

There  was  a  sound  of  scrambling.  More  soot 
floated  in  the  air.  Then  around  the  corner  of  the 
high-boy  appeared  Mr.  Pepper,  crawling  on  his  hands 
and  knees.  His  hair  was  streaked  with  black;  his 
shirt  front  and  collar  and  shirt  sleeves  were  spotted 
and  smeared  with  black;  and  from  his  blackened 
cheeks  his  red  whiskers  flamed  like  the  last  glowring 
embers  in  a  fire-scarred  ruin. 

"  Laviny,"  he  panted,  "  I  never  was  so  surprised 
and  upsot  in  all  my  life  afore." 

This  was  too  much  for  Grace.  She  collapsed  in 
a  chair  and  laughed  hysterically.  Even  the  wrathful 
Keziah  smiled.  But  Lavinia  did  not  smile.  For 
that  matter,  neither  did  her  brother. 

"  Hum!  "  sneered  Miss  Pepper.  "Upsot!  Yes, 
I  see  you're  upsot.  Get  up,  and  try  to  look  as  much 
like  a  Christian  as  you  can!  " 

Kyan  rose  from  his  knees  to  his  feet  and  rubbed 
his  back.  He  glanced  reproachfully  at  Grace,  then 
fearfully  at  his  sister. 

18 


'  You  sassy  -      Get  down  off  that  chair  and  out  of  this  house!' 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

"  I  was  just  tryin'  to  help  Keziah  take  down  her 
stovepipe,"  he  explained.  '  You  see,  she  didn't  have 
no  man  to — 

"  Yes,  I  see.  Well,  I  judge  you  got  it  down. 
Now  you  go  out  to  the  sink  and  wash  your  face. 
Heavens  and  earth  !  Look  at  them  clothes !  " 

"  I  do  hope  you  didn't  hurt  yourself,  Abishai," 
said  the  sympathetic  Keziah.  Then,  as  remembrance 
of  what  had  led  to  the  upset  came  to  her,  she  added: 
"  Though  I  will  say  'twas  your  own  fault  and  no 
body  else's." 

Lavinia  whirled  on  her. 

"  His  own  fault,  was  it?  "  she  repeated,  her  voice 
shrill  and  trembling.  '  Thank  you  very  much,  marm. 
I  cal'late  'twas  his  own  fault  comin'  here,  too,  wa'n't 
it?  Nobody  led  him  on,  I  s'pose.  Nobody  put  him 
up  to  riggin'  out  in  his  best  bib  and  tucker  and 
sneakin'  here  the  minute  I  was  out  of  the  house. 
No,  nobody  did !  Of  course  not!  " 

"  No,  nobody  did,"  said  Keziah  briskly.  "  And 
you  may  know  what  you're  hintin'  at,  but  I  don't." 

"Dear  me!  Ain't  we  innocent!  We've  got 
plenty  of  money,  we  have.  Widowers  with  property 
ain't  no  attraction  to  us.  Everybody  knows  that — 
oh,  yes !  And  they  never  talk  of  such  a  thing — oh, 
no!  Folks  don't  say  that — that—  Well,"  with 
a  snarl  in  the  direction  of  the  kitchen,  "  are  you 
anywheres  nigh  clean  yet?  Get  your  coat  and  hat 
on  and  come  home  with  me." 

She  jerked  her  brother  into  the  blue  coat,  jammed 
the  tall  hat  down  upon  his  head,  and,  seizing  him 
by  the  arm,  stalked  to  the  door. 

"  Good  day,  marm,"  she  said.     "  I  do  hope  the 
next  widower  you  get  to  take  down  your  stovepipe — 
3  19 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

yes,  indeed !  ha  !  ha  ! — I  hope  you'll  have  better  luck 
with  him.  Though  I  don't  know  who  'twould  be; 
there  ain't  no  more  idiots  in  town  that  /  know  of. 
Good  day,  and  thank  you  kindly  for  your  attentions 
to  our  family." 

She  pulled  the  door  open  and  was  on  the  step; 
but  Mrs.  Coffin  did  not  intend  to  let  her  go  in  just 
that  way. 

"  Laviny  Pepper,"  she  declared,  her  eyes  snap 
ping,  "  I  don't  know  what  you're  talkin'  about,  but 
if  you  dare  to  mean  that  I  want  any  of  your  money, 
or  your  brother's  money,  you're  mistaken — 'cause  I 
don't.  And  I  don't  want  your  brother  either — Lord 
help  him,  poor  thing !  And  I  tell  you  right  now  that 
there's  nobody  that  does;  though1  some  kind-hearted 
folks  have  said  'twould  be  a  Christian  act  to  poison 
him,  so's  to  put  him  out  of  his  misery.  There  !  Good 
mornin'  to  you." 

She  slammed  the  door.  Lavinia  was  speechless. 
As  for  her  brother,  but  one  remark  of  his  reached 
Grace,  who  was  watching  from  the  window. 

"  Laviny,"  pleaded  Kyan,  "  just  let  me  explain." 

At  nine  o'clock  that  night  he  was  still  "  explain- 
ing." 

Keziah  turned  from  the  door  she  had  closed  be 
hind  hef  visitor. 

"  Well !  "  she  ejaculated.     "  Well!  " 

Her  friend  did  not  look  at  her.  She  was  still 
gazing  out  of  the  window.  Occasionally  she  seemed 
to  choke. 

Keziah  eyed  her  suspiciously. 

"  Humph!  "  she  mused.  "  'Twas  funny,  wasn't 
it?" 

"  Oh,  dreadfully!  "  was  the  hurried  answer. 
20 


TWO    PROPOSALS    AND    A    THIRD 

'  Yes.      Seems  to   me  you   took   an   awful   long 
time  findin'  that  hammer." 

"  It  was  away  back  in  the  drawer.  I  didn't  see 
it  at  first." 

"Hum!  Grace  Van  Home,  if  I  thought  you 
heard  what  that — that  thing  said  to  me,  I'd — I'd— 
Good  land  of  mercy !  somebody  else  is  comin'." 

Steps,  measured,  dignified  steps,  sounded  on  the 
walk.  From  without  came  a  "  Hum — ha !  "  a  por 
tentous  combination  of  cough  and  grunt.  Grace 
dodged  back  from  the  window  and  hastily  began 
donning  her  hat  and  jacket. 

"  It's  Cap'n  Elkanah,"  she  whispered.  "  I  must 
go.  This  seems  to  be  your  busy  morning,  Aunt  Ke- 
ziah.  I  "  —here  she  choked  again — "  really,  I  didn't 
know  you  were  so  popular." 

Keziah  opened  the  door.  Captain  Elkanah  Dan 
iels,  prosperous,  pompous,  and  unbending,  crossed 
the  threshold.  Richest  man  in  the  village,  retired 
shipowner,  pillar  of  the  Regular  church  and  leading 
member  of  its  parish  committee,  Captain  Elkanah 
looked  the  part.  He  removed  his  hat,  cleared  his 
throat  behind  his  black  stock,  and  spoke  with  impres 
sive  deliberation. 

"  Good  morning,  Keziah.  Ah — er — morning, 
Grace."  Even  in  the  tone  given  to  a  perfunctory 
salutation  like  this,  the  captain  differentiated  be 
tween  Regular  and  Come-Outer.  "  Keziah,  I — hum, 
ha ! — rather  expected  to  find  you  alone." 

"  I  was  just  going,  Cap'n  Daniels,"  explained  the 
girl.  The  captain  bowed  and  continued. 

"  Keziah,"  he  said,  "  Keziah,  I  came  to  see  you 
on  a  somewhat  important  matter.  I  have  a  proposal 
I  wish  to  make  you." 

21 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

He  must  have  been  surprised  at  the  effect  of  his 
words.  Keziah's  face  was  a  picture,  a  crimson  pic 
ture  of  paralyzed  amazement.  As  for  Miss  Van 
Home,  that  young  lady  gave  vent  to  what  her  friend 
described  afterwards  as  a  "  squeal,"  and  bolted  out 
of  the  door  and  into  the  grateful  seclusion  of  the  fog. 


CHAPTER    II 

IN    WHICH    KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

THE  fog  was  cruel  to  the  gossips  of  Trumet 
that  day.  Mrs.  Didama  Rogers,  who 
lived  all  alone,  except  for  the  society  of 
three  cats,  a  canary,  and  a  white  poodle  named 
"  Bunch,"  in  the  little  house  next  to  Captain  El- 
kanah's  establishment,  never  entirely  recovered  from 
the  chagrin  and  disappointment  caused  by  that  pro 
voking  mist.  When  one  habitually  hurries  through 
the  morning's  household  duties  in  order  to  sit  by  the 
front  window  and  note  each  passer-by,  with  various 
fascinating  surmises  as  to  his  or  her  errand  and  the 
reasons  for  it,  it  is  discouraging  to  be  able  to  see 
only  one's  own  front  fence  and  a  scant  ten  feet  of 
sidewalk.  And  then  to  learn  afterwards  of  a  dozen 
most  exciting  events,  each  distinctly  out  of  the  ordi 
nary,  which  might  have  been  used  as  excuses  for  two 
dozen  calls  and  as  many  sensations !  As  Captain 
Zeb  Mayo,  the  irreverent  ex-whaler,  put  it,  "  That 
fog  shook  Didama's  faith  in  the  judgment  of  Provi 
dence.  'Tain't  the  '  all  wise,'  but  the  '  all  seein'  ' 
kind  she  talks  about  in  meetin'  now." 

The  fog  prevented  Mrs.  Rogers's  noting  the  en 
trance  of  Mr.  Pepper  at  the  Coffin  front  gate.  Also 
his  exit,  under  sisterly  arrest.  It  shut  from  her  view 
the  majestic  approach  of  Captain  Elkanah  Daniels 

23 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

and  Grace's  flight,  her  face  dimpled  with  smiles  and 
breaking  into  laughter  at  frequent  intervals.  For  a 
young  lady,  supposed  to  be  a  devout  Come-Outer,  to 
hurry  along  the  main  road,  a  handkerchief  at  her 
mouth  and  her  eyes  sparkling  with  fun,  was  a  cir 
cumstance  calculated  to  furnish  material  for  enjoy 
able  scandal.  And  Didama  missed  it. 

Other  happenings  she  missed,  also.  Not  knowing 
of  Captain  Daniels's  call  upon  Keziah,  she  was  de 
prived  of  the  pleasure  of  wonder  at  the  length  of 
his  stay.  She  did  not  see  him,  in  company  with  Mrs. 
Coffin,  go  down  the  road  in  the  opposite  direction 
from  that  taken  by  Grace.  Nor  their  return  and 
parting  at  the  gate,  two  hours  later.  She  did  not 
see — but  there !  she  saw  nothing,  absolutely  nothing 
— except  the  scraggy  spruce  tree  in  her  tiny  front 
yard  and  the  lonely  ten  feet  of  walk  bordering  it. 
No  one  traversed  that  section  of  walk  except  old 
Mrs.  Tinker,  who  was  collecting  subscriptions  for 
new  hymn  books  for  the  Come-Outer  chapel.  And 
Didama  was  particularly  anxious  not  to  see  her. 

The  dismal  day  dragged  on.  The  silver-leaf 
trees  dripped,  the  hedges  were  shining  with  moisture. 
Through  the  stillness  the  distant  surf  along  the 
"  ocean  side"  of  the  Cape  growled  and  moaned  and 
the  fog  bell  at  the  lighthouse  clanged  miserably. 
Along  the  walk  opposite  Didama's — the  more  popu 
lar  side  of  the  road — shadowy  figures  passed  at  long 
intervals,  children  going  to  and  from  school,  people 
on  errands  to  the  store,  and  the  like.  It  was  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  before  a  visitor  came  again 
to  the  Coffin  front  gate,  entered  the  yard  and  rapped 
at  the  side  door. 

Keziah  opened  the  door. 
24 


KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

"  Halloa!  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Back,  are  you?  I 
begun  to  think  you'd  been  scared  away  for  good." 

Grace  laughed  as  she  entered. 

"  Well,  auntie,"  she  said,  "  I  don't  wonder  you 
thought  I  was  scared.  Truly,  I  didn't  think  it  was 
proper  for  me  to  stay.  First  Kyan  and  then  Cap'n 
Elkanah,  and  both  of  them  expressing  their  wishes 
to  see  you  alone  so — er — pointedly.  I  thought  it 
was  time  for  me  to  go.  Surely,  you  give  me  credit 
for  a  little  delicacy." 

Kez,iah  eyed  her  grimly. 

"  Humph !  "  she  sniffed.  "  If  you'd  been  a  little 
less  delicate  about  fetchin'  that  hammer,  we  might 
have  been  spared  at  least  one  smash-up.  I  don't 
s'pose  Laviny'll  ever  speak  to  me  again.  Oh,  dear! 
I  guess  likely  I'll  never  get  the  memory  of  that— 
that  Kyan  thing  out  of  my  mind.  I  never  was  so  set 
back  in  my  born  days.  Yes,  you  can  laugh !  " 

She  laughed  herself  as  she  said  it.  As  for  Grace, 
it  was  sometime  before  that  young  lady  became 
coherent. 

"  He  did  look  so  funny !  "  she  gasped.  "  Hop 
ping  up  and  down  on  that  shaky  chair  and  holding 
on  to  that  pipe  and — and—  O  Aunt  Keziah,  if 
you  could  have  seen  your  face  when  I  opened  that 
door!" 

"Yes;  well,  I  will  say  you  was  sometime  gettin' 
it  open.  And  then,  on  top  of  the  whole  fool  busi 
ness,  in  parades  Elkanah  Daniels  and — 

She  paused.  Her  companion  looked  delightedly 
expectant. 

"  Yes,"  she  cried  eagerly.  "  Then  Cap'n  El 
kanah  came  and  the  very  first  thing  he  said  was — 
I  almost  laughed  in  his  face." 

25 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"Almost!  Humph!  that's  no  exaggeration. 
The  way  you  put  out  of  that  door  was  a  caution." 

"Yes,  but  what  did  the  cap'n  mean?  Is  it  a 
secret?  Ahem!  shall  I  congratulate  you,  auntie?" 

"Grace  Van  Home!  there's  born  fools  enough 
in  this  town  without  your  tryin'  to  be  one.  You 
know  'twa'n't  that.  Though  what  'twas  was  surprise 
enough,  I  will  say,"  she  added.  "  Grace,  I  ain't 
goin'  away  to-morrow." 

"You're  not?  Oh,  splendid!  Has  the  cap'n 
decided  to  let  you  stay  here?  " 

"  I  guess  his  decidin'  wouldn't  influence  me,  if 
'twas  stayin'  in  his  house  he  meant.  The  only  way 
I  could  live  here  would  be  on  his  charity,  and  that 
would  be  as  poor  fodder  as  sawdust  hasty  puddin', 
even  if  I  was  fond  of  charity,  which  I  ain't.  He  said 
to  me —  Well,  you  take  your  things  off  and  I'll  tell 
you  about  it.  You  can  stay  a  little  while,  can't  you  ?  " 
'  Yes,  I  was  going  to  stay  all  the  afternoon  and 
for  supper,  if  you'd  let  me.  I  knew  you  had  so  much 
to  do  and  I  wanted  to  help.  I  told  uncle  and  he 
said  certainly  I  ought  to  come.  He  said  he  should 
try  to  see  you  and  say  good-by  before  you  left  to 
morrow." 

"  You  don't  say !  And  me  a  Regular !  Well, 
I'm  much  obliged,  though  I  guess  your  Uncle  Eben 
won't  see  me  to-morrow — nor  speak  to  me  again, 
when  he  knows  what  I  am  going  to  do.  Grace,  I 
ain't  goin'  to  leave  Trumet,  not  for  the  present,  any 
how.  I've  got  a  way  of  earnin'  my  livin'  right  here. 
I'm  goin'  to  keep  house  for  the  new  minister." 

The  girl  turned,  her  hat  in  her  hand. 

"  Oh !  "  she  cried  in  utter  astonishment. 

Keziah  nodded.  "  Yes,"  she  affirmed.  "  That 
26 


KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

was  what  Elkanah's  proposal  amounted  to.  Ha  !  ha  ! 
Deary  me !  When  he  said  '  proposal/  I  own  up  for 
a  minute  I  didn't  know  what  was  comin'.  After 
Kyan  I  was  prepared  for  'most  anything.  But  he 
told  me  that  Lurany  Phelps,  who  the  parish  com 
mittee  had  counted  on  to  keep  house  for  Mr.  Ellery, 
had  sent  word  her  sister  was  sick  and  couldn't  be 
left,  and  that  somebody  must  be  hired  right  off  'cause 
the  minister's  expected  by  day  after  to-morrow's 
coach.  And  they'd  gone  over  every  likely  candidate 
in  town  till  it  simmered  down  to  Mehitable  Burgess. 
And  Cap'n  Zeb  Mayo  spoke  right  up  in  the  com 
mittee  meetin'  and  gave  out  that  if  Mehitable  kept 
house  for  Mr.  Ellery  he,  for  one,  wouldn't  come  to 
church.  Said  he  didn't  want  to  hear  sermons  that 
was  inspired  by  her  cookin'.  Seems  she  cooked  for 
the  Mayos  one  week  when  Mrs.  Mayo  had  gone  to 
Boston,  and  Cap'n  Zeb  declares  his  dreams  that  week 
was  somethin'  awful.  '  And  I'm  a  man  with  no 
nerves  and  mighty  little  imagination,'  he  says. 
*  Land  knows  what  effect  a  dose  of  Mehitable's  bis 
cuits  might  have  on  a  minister.' 

"  And  so,"  continued  Keziah,  "  they  decided 
Mehitable  wouldn't  do,  and  finally  somebody  thought 
of  me.  I  have  a  notion  'twas  Zeb,  although  Cap'n 
Elkanah  did  his  best  to  make  me  think  'twas  himself. 
And  the  cap'n  was  made  a  delegate  to  come  and 
see  me  about  it.  Come  he  did,  and  we  settled  it. 
I  went  down  to  the  parsonage  with  him  before  dinner 
and  looked  the  place  over.  There's  an  awful  lot  of 
sweepin'  and  dustin'  to  be  done  afore  it's  fit  for  a 
body  to  live  in.  I  did  think  that  when  I'd  finished 
with  this  house  I  could  swear  off  on  that  kind  of 
dissipation  for  a  while,  but  I  guess,  judgin'  by  the 

27 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

looks  of  that  parsonage,  what  I've  done  so  far  is 
only  practice."  She  paused,  glanced  keenly  at  her 
friend  and  asked:  "Why!  what's  the  matter?  You 
don't  act  nigh  so  glad  as  I  thought  you'd  be." 

Grace  said  of  course  she  was  glad;  but  she  looked 
troubled,  nevertheless. 

"  I  can  hardly  make  it  seem  possible,"  she  said. 
"  Is  it  really  settled — your  salary  and  everything? 
And  what  will  you  do  about  your  position  in  Bos 
ton?" 

"  Oh,  I'll  write  Cousin  Abner  and  tell  him. 
Lord  love  you,  he  won't  care.  He'll  feel  that  he  did 
his  duty  in  gettin'  me  the  Boston  chance  and  if  I 
don't  take  it  'tain't  his  fault.  His  conscience'll  be 
clear.  Land  sakes !  if  I  could  clean  house  as  easy  as 
some  folks  clear  their  consciences  I  wouldn't  have 
a  backache  this  minute.  Yes,  the  wages  are  agreed 
on,  too.  And  totin'  them  around  won't  make  my  back 
ache  any  worse,  either,"  she  added  drily. 

Grace  extended  her  hand. 

"  Well,  Aunt  Keziah,"  she  said,  "  I'm  ever  and 
ever  so  glad  for  you.  I  know  you  didn't  want  to 
leave  Trumet  and  I'm  sure  everyone  will  be  delighted 
when  they  learn  that  you're  going  to  stay." 

"  Humph !  that  includes  Laviny  Pepper,  of 
course.  I  cal'late  Laviny's  delight  won't  keep  her 
up  nights.  But  I  guess  I  can  stand  it  if  she  can. 
Now,  Grace,  what  is  it?  You  ain't  real  pleased? 
Why  not?" 

The  girl  hesitated. 

"  Auntie,"  she  said,  "  I'm  selfish,  I  guess.  I'm 
glad  for  your  sake;  you  mustn't  think  I'm  not.  But 
I  almost  wish  you  were  going  to  do  something  else. 
You  are  going  to  live  in  the  Regular  parsonage  and 

28 


KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

keep  house  for,  of  all  persons,  a  Regular  minister. 
Why,  so  far  as  my  seeing  you  is  concerned,  you 
might  as  well  be  in  China.  You  know  Uncle  Eben." 

Keziah  nodded  understandingly. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  I  know  him.  Eben  Ham 
mond  thinks  that  parsonage  is  the  presence  chamber 
of  the  Evil  One,  I  presume  likely.  But,  Grace,  you 
mustn't  blame  me,  and  if  you  don't  call  I'll  know 
why  and  I  shan't  blame  you.  We'll  see  each  other 
once  in  a  while;  I'll  take  care  of  that.  And,  deary, 
I  had  to  do  it — I  just  had  to.  If  you  knew  what  a 
load  had  been  took  off  my  mind  by  this,  you'd  sym 
pathize  with  me  and  understand.  I've  been  happier 
in  Trumet  than  I  ever  was  anywhere  else,  though  I've 
seen  some  dark  times  here,  too.  I  was  born  here;  my 
folks  used  to  live  here.  My  brother  Sol  lived  and 
died  here.  His  death  was  a  heavy  trouble  to  me, 
but  the  heaviest  came  to  me  when  I  was  somewheres 
else  and — well,  somehow  I've  had  a  feelin'  that,  if 
there  was  any  real  joys  ever  planned  out  for  me  while 
I'm  on  this  earth,  they'd  come  to  me  here.  I  don't 
know  when  they'll  come.  There's  times  when  I 
can't  believe  they  ever  will  come,  but —  There ! 
there !  everybody  has  to  bear  burdens  in  this  life,  I 
I  cal'late.  It's  a  vale  of  tears,  'cordin'  to  you  Come- 
/  Outer  folks,  though  I've  never  seen  much  good  in 
/  wearin'  a  long  face  and  a  crape  bathin'  suit  on  that 
account.  Hey?  What  are  you  listenin'  to?" 

"  I  thought  I  heard  a  carriage  stop,  that  was  all." 

Mrs.  Coffin  went  to  the  window  and  peered  into 
the  fog. 

"  Can't  see  anything,"  she  said.  "  'Tain't  any 
body  for  here,  that's  sure.  I  guess  likely  'twas 
Cap'n  Elkanah.  He  and  Annabel  were  goin'  to 

29 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

drive  over  to  Denboro  this  afternoon.  She  had 
some  trimmin'  to  buy.  Takes  more  than  fog  to 
separate  Annabel  Daniels  from  dressmakin'.  Well, 
there's  a  little  more  packin'  to  do;  then  I  thought 
I'd  go  down  to  that  parsonage  and  take  a  whack  at 
the  cobwebs.  I  never  saw  so  many  in  my  born 
days.  You'd  think  all  the  spiders  from  here  to 
Ostable  had  been  holdin'  camp  meetin'  in  that  shut- 
up  house." 

The  packing  took  about  an  hour.  When  it  wras 
finished,  the  carpet  rolled  up,  and  the  last  piece  of 
linen  placed  in  the  old  trunk,  Keziah  turned  to  her 
guest. 

"  Now,  Grade,"  she  said,  "  I  feel  as  though  I 
ought  to  go  to  the  parsonage.  I  can't  do  much 
more'n  look  at  the  cobwebs  to-night,  but  to-morrow 
those  spiders  had  better  put  on  their  ascension  robes. 
The  end  of  the  world's  comin'  for  them,  even  though 
it  missed  fire  for  the  Millerites  when  they  had  their 
doin's  a  few  years  ago.  You  can  stay  here  and  wait, 
if  'twon't  be  too  lonesome.  We'll  have  supper  when 
I  get  back." 

Grace  looked  tempted. 

"  I've  a  good  mind  to  go  with  you,"  she  said. 
"  I  want  to  be  with  you  as  much  as  I  can,  and  he 
isn't  there  yet.  I'm  afraid  uncle  might  not  like  it, 
but- 

"  Sho !  Come  along.  Eben  Hammond  may  be 
a  chronic  sufferer  from  acute  Come-Outiveness,  but 
he  ain't  a  ninny.  Nobody'll  see  you,  anyway.  This 
fog's  like  charity,  it'll  cover  a  heap  of  sins.  Do 
come  right  along.  Wait  till  I  get  on  my  things." 

She  threw  a  shawl  over  her  shoulders,  draped  a 
white  knitted  "  cloud  "  over  her  head,  and  took  from 

30 


KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

a  nail  a  key,  attached  by  a  strong  cord  to  a  block  of 
wood  eight  inches  long. 

"  Elkanah  left  the  key  with  me,"  she  observed. 
"  No  danger  of  losin'  it,  is  there.  Might  as  well 
lose  a  lumber  yard.  Old  Parson  Langley  tied  it  up 
this  way,  so  he  wouldn't  miss  his  moorin's,  I  presume 
likely.  The  poor  old  thing  was  so  nearsighted  and 
absent-minded  along  toward  the  last  that  they  say 
he  used  to  hire  Noah  Myrick's  boy  to  come  in  and 
look  him  over  every  Sunday  mornin'  before  church, 
so's  to  be  sure  he  hadn't  got  his  wig  on  stern  fore 
most.  That's  the  way  Zeb  Mayo  tells  the  yarn, 
anyhow." 

They  left  the  house  and  came  out  into  the  wet 
mist.  Then,  turning  to  the  right,  in  the  direction 
which  Trumet,  with  unconscious  irony,  calls  "  down 
town,"  they  climbed  the  long  slope  where  the  main 
road  mounts  the  outlying  ridge  of  Cannon  Hill, 
passed  Captain  Mayo's  big  house — the  finest  in 
Trumet,  with  the  exception  of  the  Daniels  mansion — 
and  descended  into  the  hollow  beyond.  Here,  at 
the  corner  where  the  "  Lighthouse  Lane  "  begins  its 
winding  way  over  the  rolling  knolls  and  dunes  to  the 
light  and  the  fish  shanties  on  the  "  ocean  side,"  stood 
the  plain,  straight-up-and-down  meeting  house  of  the 
Regular  society.  Directly  opposite  was  the  little 
parsonage,  also  very  straight  up  and  down.  Both 
were  painted  white  with  green  blinds.  This  state 
ment  is  superfluous  to  those  who  remember  Cape 
architecture  at  this  period;  practically  every  build 
ing  from  Sandwich  to  Provincetown  was  white  and 
green. 

They  entered  the  yard,  through  the  gap  in  the 
white  fence,  and  went  around  the  house,  past  the 

31 


dripping  evergreens  and  the  bare,  wet  lilac  bushes,  to 
the  side  door,  the  lock  of  which  Keziah's  key  fitted. 
There  was  a  lock  on  the  front  door,  of  course,  but 
no  one  thought  of  meddling  with  that.  That  door 
had  been  opened  but  once  during  the  late  pastor's 
thirty-year  tenantry.  On  the  occasion  of  his  funeral 
the  mourners  came  and  went,  as  was  proper,  by  that 
solemn  portal. 

Mrs.  Coffin  thrust  the  key  into  the  keyhole  of 
the  side  door  and  essayed  to  turn  it. 

"  Humph !  "  she  muttered,  twisting  to  no  pur 
pose;  u  I  don't  see  why —  This  must  be  the  right 
key,  because —  Well,  I  declare,  if  it  ain't  unlocked 
already!  That's  some  of  Cap'n  Elkanah's  doin's. 
For  a  critter  as  fussy  and  particular  about  some 
things,  he's  careless  enough  about  others.  Mercy 
we  ain't  had  any  tramps  around  here  lately.  Come 
in." 

She  led  the  way  into  the  dining  room  of  the 
parsonage.  Two  of  the  blinds  shading  the  windows 
of  that  apartment  had  been  opened  when  she  and 
Captain  Daniels  made  their  visit,  and  the  dim  gray 
light  made  the  room  more  lonesome  and  forsaken 
in  appearance  than  a  deeper  gloom  could  possibly 
have  done.  The  black  walnut  extension  table  in  the 
center,  closed  to  its  smallest  dimensions  because  Par 
son  Langley  had  eaten  alone  for  so  many  years;  the 
black  walnut  chairs  set  back  against  the  wall  at 
regular  intervals;  the  rag  carpet  and  braided  mats — 
homemade  donations  from  the  ladies  of  the  parish — 
on  the  green  painted  floor;  the  dolorous  pictures  on 
the  walls;  "Death  of  Washington,"  "Stoning  of 
Stephen,"  and  a  still  more  deadly  "  fruit  piece  "  com 
mitted  in  oils  years  ago  by  a  now  deceased  boat 

32 


KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

painter;  a  black  walnut  sideboard  with  some  blue- 
and-white  crockery  upon  it;  a  gilt-framed  mirror 
with  another  outrage  in  oils  emphasizing  its  upper 
half;  dust  over  everything  and  the  cobwebs  men 
tioned  by  Keziah  draping  the  corners  of  the  ceiling; 
this  was  the  dining  room  of  the  Regular  parsonage 
as  Grace  saw  it  upon  this,  her  first  visit.  The  dust 
and  cobwebs  were,  in  her  eyes,  the  only  novelties, 
however.  Otherwise,  the  room  was  like  many  others 
in  Trumet,  and,  if  there  had  been  one  or  two  paint 
ings  of  ships,  would  have  been  typical  of  the  better 
class. 

"  Phew !  "  exclaimed  Keziah,  sniffing  disgust 
edly.  "  Musty  and  shut  up  enough,  ain't  it?  Down 
here  in  the  dampness,  and  'specially  in  the  spring,  it 
don't  take  any  time  for  a  house  to  get  musty  if  it 
ain't  aired  out  regular.  Mr.  Langley  died  only 
three  months  ago,  but  we've  been  candidatin'  ever 
since  and  the  candidates  have  been  boarded  round. 
There's  been  enough  of  'em,  too;  we're  awful  hard 
to  suit,  I  guess.  That's  it.  Do  open  some  more 
blinds  and  a  window.  Fresh  air  don't  hurt  anybody 
— unless  it's  spiders,"  with  a  glare  at  the  loathed 
cobwebs. 

The  blinds  and  a  window  being  opened,  more 
light  entered  the  room.  Grace  glanced  about  it 
curiously. 

"  So  this  is  going  to  be  your  new  home  now, 
Aunt  Keziah,"  she  observed.  "  How  queer  that 


seems. 

u 


Um — h'm.  Does  seem  queer,  don't  it?  Must 
seem  queer  to  you  to  be  so  near  the  headquarters  of 
everything  your  uncle  thinks  is  wicked.  Smell  of 
brimstone  any,  does  it?  "  she  asked  with  a  smile. 

33 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  No,  I  haven't  noticed  it.  You've  got  a  lot  of 
cleaning  to  do.  I  wish  I  could  help.  Look  at  the 
mud  on  the  floor." 

Keziah  looked. 

"  Mud?  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Why,  so  'tis !  How 
in  the  world  did  that  come  here?  Wet  feet,  sure's 
you're  born.  Man's  foot,  too.  Cap'n  Elkanah's,  I 
guess  likely;  though  the  prints  don't  look  hardly  big 
enough  for  his.  Elkanah's  convinced  that  he's  a 
great  man  and  his  boots  bear  him  out  in  it,  don't 
they?  Those  marks  don't  look  broad  enough  for  his 
understanding  but  I  guess  he  made  'em;  nobody  else 
could.  Here's  the  settin'  room." 

She  threw  open  another  door.  A  room  gloomy 
with  black  walnut  and  fragrant  with  camphor  was 
dimly  visible. 

"  Cheerful's  a  tomb,  ain't  it?  "  was  Mrs.  Coffin's 
comment.  "  Well,  we'll  get  some  light  and  air  in 
here  pretty  soon.  Here's  the  front  hall  and  there's 
the  front  stairs.  The  parlor's  off  to  the  left.  We 
won't  bother  with  that  yet  a  while.  This  little  place 
in  here  is  what  Mr.  Langley  used  to  call  his  '  study.' 
Halloa!  how  this  door  sticks!  " 

The  door  did  stick,  and  no  amount  of  tugging 
could  get  it  open,  though  Grace  added  her  efforts  to 
those  of  Keziah. 

"  'Tain't  locked,"  commented  Mrs.  Coffin, 
"  'cause  there  ain't  any  lock  on  it.  I  guess  it's  just 
swelled  and  stuck  from  the  damp.  Though  it's  odd, 
I  don't  remember —  Oh,  well !  never  mind.  Let's 
sweeten  up  this  settin'  room  a  little.  Open  a  window 
or  two  in  here.  We'll  have  to  hurry  if  we  want  to  do 
anything  before  it  gets  dark.  I'm  goin'  into  the 
kitchen  to  get  a  broom." 

34 


KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

She  hurried  out,  returning  in  a  moment  or  two 
with  a  broom  and  a  most  disgusted  expression. 

"  How's  a  body  goin'  to  sweep  with  that?"  she 
demanded,  exhibiting  the  frayed  utensil,  the  business 
end  of  which  was  worn  to  a  stub.  "  More  like  a 
shovel,  enough  sight.  Well,  there's  pretty  nigh  dust 
enough  for  a  shovel,  so  maybe  this'll  take  oft  the  top 
layers.  S'pose  I'll  ever  get  this  house  fit  for  Mr. 
Ellery  to  live  in  before  he  comes?  I  wonder  if  he's 
a  particular  man?  " 

Grace,  who  was  struggling  with  a  refractory  win 
dow,  paused  for  breath. 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know,"  she  replied.  "  I've 
never  seen  him." 

"  Nor  I  either.  Sol  was  so  bad  the  Sunday  he 
preached  that  I  couldn't  go  to  meetin'.  They  say 
his  sermon  was  fine;  all  about  those  who  go  down 
to  the  sea  in  ships.  That's  what  got  the  parish  com 
mittee,  I  guess;  they're  all  old  salts.  I  wonder  if 
he's  as  fine-lookin'  as  they  say?  " 

Miss  Van  Home  tossed  her  head.  She  was  rest 
ing,  prior  to  making  another  assault  on  the  window. 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  said.  "  And  I'm  sure  I 
don't  care.  I  don't  like  good-looking  ministers." 

"  Deary  me !  You're  different  from  most  females 
in  this  town,  then.  And  you  spoke  of  his  good  looks 
yourself  this  very  mornin'.  Why  don't  you  like  the 
good-lookin'  ones?  " 

"  Oh,  because  they're  always  conceited  and  pat 
ronizing  and  superior — and  spoiled.  I  can  just 
imagine  this  Mr.  Ellery  of  yours  strutting  about  in 
sewing  circle  or  sociables,  with  Annabel  and  Georgi- 
anna  Lothrop  and  the  rest  simpering  and  gushing 
and  getting  in  his  way:  'O  Mr.  Ellery,  I  did  so 
4  35 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

enjoy  that  sermon  of  yours  Sunday!  '  and  '  O  Mr. 
Ellery,  it  was  so  good  of  you  to  come  this  afternoon  !  ' 
Pooh!  I'm  glad  I'm  a  Come-Outer.  Not  that 
7  would  simper  over  him  if  I  wasn't.  He  couldn't 
patronize  me — not  more  than  once,  at  any  rate." 

Keziah  was  greatly  amused. 

"  Sakes  alive !  "  she  chuckled.  '  You're  awfully 
high  and  mighty,  seems  to  me.  And  changeable 
since  mornin'.  You  was  willin'  enough  to  talk  about 
him  then.  Now,  Gracie,  you  mustn't  take  a  spite 
against  poor  Mr.  Ellery  just  because  I've  got  to  keep 
house  for  him.  'Tain't  his  fault;  he  don't  even  know 
it  yet." 

"  I  don't  care.  I  know  he'll  be  a  conceited  little 
snippet  and  I  shall  hate  the  sight  of  him.  There ! 
there !  Auntie,  you  mustn't  mind  me.  I  told  you  I 
was  a  selfish  pig.  But  don't  you  ask  me  to  like  this 
precious  minister  of  yours,  because  I  shan't  do  it. 
He  has  no  business  to  come  and  separate  me  from 
the  best  friend  I've  got.  I'd  tell  him  so  if  he  was 
here—  What  was  that?  " 

Both  women  looked  at  each  other  with  startled 
faces.  They  listened  intently. 

"Why,  wa'n't  that  funny!"  whispered  Keziah. 
"  I  thought  I  heard- 

'  You  did  hear.  So  did  I.  What  do  you  sup 
pose — 

"  S-s-s-h-h !  It  sounded  from  the  front  room 
somewhere.  And  yet  there  can't  be  anybody  in  there, 
because —  My  soul !  there  'tis  again.  I'm  goin'  to 
find  out." 

She  grasped  the  stubby  broom  by  the  handle  and 
moved  determinedly  toward  the  front  hall.  Grace 
seized  her  by  the  arm. 

36 


KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

"Don't  you  do  it,  auntie!"  she  whispered 
frantically.  "Don't  you  do  it!  It  may  be  a 
tramp." 

"  I  don't  care.  Whoever  or  whatever  it  is,  it  has 
no  business  in  this  house,  and  I'll  make  that  plain  in 
a  hurry.  Just  like  as  not  it's  a  cat  got  in  when  El- 
kanah  was  here  this  forenoon.  Don't  be  scared, 
Grace.  Come  right  along." 

The  girl  came  along,  but  not  with  enthusiasm. 
They  tiptoed  through  the  dark,  narrow  hall  and 
peered  into  the  parlor.  This  apartment  \vas  dim  and 
still  and  gloomy,  as  all  proper  parlors  should  be,  but 
there  was  no  sign  of  life. 

"Humph!"  sniffed  Keziah.  "It  might  have 
been  upstairs,  but  it  didn't  sound  so.  What  did  it 
sound  like  to  you  ?  " 

"  Like  a  footstep  at  first;  and  then  like  some 
thing  falling — and  rustling.  Oh,  what  is  the  mat 
ter?" 

Mrs.  Coffin  was  glancing  back  down  the  hall 
with  a  strange  expression  on  her  face.  Her  grip 
upon  the  broom  handle  tightened. 

"What  Is  it?"  pleaded  the  girl  in  an  agonized 
whisper. 

"  Grace,"  was  the  low  reply,  "  I've  just  remem 
bered  somethin'.  That  study  door  isn't  stuck  from 
the  damp,  because — well,  because  I  remember  now 
that  it  was  open  this  mornin'." 

Before  her  companion  could  fully  grasp  the  im 
port  of  this  paralyzing  fact,  Keziah  strode  down  the 
hall  and  seized  the  knob  of  the  study  door. 

'  Whoever  you  are  in  there,"  she  commanded 
sternly,  "  open  this  door  and  come  out  this  minute. 
Do  you  hear?  I'm  orderin'  you  to  come  out." 

37 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

There  was  an  instant  of  silence;  then  a  voice 
from  within  made  answer,  a  man's  voice,  and  its  tone 
indicated  embarrassment. 

"  Madam,"  it  said,  "  I — I  am — I  will  be  out  in 
another  minute.     If  you  will  just  be  patient- 
Grace  interrupted  with  a  smothered  shriek.     Ke- 
ziah  brandished  the  broom. 

"  Patient!  "  she  repeated  sharply.  "  Well,  I  like 
that !  What  do  you  mean  by—  Open  that  door ! 
Grace,  run  out  and  get  the — the  constable." 

This  command  was  delivered  entirely  for  effect. 
The  office  of  constable  in  Trumet  is,  generally  speak 
ing,  a  purely  honorary  one.  Its  occupant  had  just 
departed  for  a  week's  cruise  as  mate  of  a  mackerel 
schooner.  However,  the  effect  was  instantaneous. 
From  behind  the  door  came  sounds  of  hurry  and 
commotion. 

"  Don't  get  the  police  on  my  account,  please," 
said  the  voice.  "If  you  will  be  patient  until  I  get 
this — I'm  just  as  anxious  to  come  out  as  you  can  be 
to  have  me.  Of  all  the  ridiculous — 

"Come  out  then!"  snapped  Keziah.  "Come 
out!  If  you're  so  everlastin'  anxious,  then  come  out. 
Patience !  Of  all  the  cheek !  Why  don't  you  come 
out  now?  " 

The  answer  was  brisk  and  to  the  point.  Evi 
dently,  the  unknown's  stock  of  the  virtue  which  he 
demanded  of  others  was  diminishing. 

''  Well,  to  be  frank,  since  you  insist,"  snapped  the 
voice,  "  I'm  not  fully  dressed." 

This  was  a  staggerer.  For  once  Keziah  did  not 
have  a  reply  ready.  She  looked  at  Grace  and  the  lat 
ter  at  her.  Then,  without  words,  they  retreated  to 
the  sitting  room. 

38 


KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

"Shall — shall  I  go  for  help?"  whispered  the 
girl.  "  Hadn't  we  better  leave  him  here  and—  He 
doesn't  sound  like  a  tramp,  does  he.  What  do  you 
suppose — 

;'  I  hope  you  won't  be  alarmed,"  continued  the 
voice,  broken  by  panting  pauses,  as  if  the  speaker  was 
struggling  into  a  garment.  "  I  know  this  must  seem 
strange.  You  see,  I  came  on  the  coach  as  far  as  Bay- 
port  and  then  we  lost  a  wheel  in  a  rut.  There  was 
a — oh,  dear!  where  Is  that — this  is  supremely  idi 
otic  ! — I  was  saying  there  happened  to  be  a  man  com 
ing  this  way  with  a  buggy  and  he  offered  to  help  me 
along.  He  was  on  his  way  to  Wellmouth.  So  I  left 
my  trunk  to  come  later  and  took  my  valise.  It 
rained  on  the  way  and  I  was  wet  through.  I  stopped 
at  Captain  Daniels's  house  and  the  girl  said  he  had 
gone  with  his  daughter  to  the  next  town,  but  that 
they  were  to  stop  here  at  the  parsonage  on  their  way. 
So — there !  that's  right,  at  last ! — so  I  came,  hoping 
to  find  them.  The  door  was  open  and  I  came  in. 
The  captain  and  his  daughter  were  not  here,  but,  as 
I  was  pretty  wet,  I  thought  I  would  seize  the  oppor 
tunity  to  change  my  clothes.  I  had  some  dry — er — 
things  in  my  valise  and  I — well,  then  you  came,  you 
see,  and — I  assure  you  I — well,  it  was  the  most  em 
barrassing — I'm  coming  now." 

The  door  opened.  The  two  in  the  sitting  room 
huddled  close  together,  Keziah  holding  the  broom 
like  a  battle-ax,  ready  for  whatsoever  might  develop. 
From  the  dimness  of  the  tightly  shuttered  study 
stepped  the  owner  of  the  voice,  a  stranger,  a  young 
man,  his  hair  rumpled,  his  tie  disarranged,  and  the 
buttons  of  his  waistcoat  filling  the  wrong  buttonholes. 
Despite  this  evidence  of  a  hasty  toilet  in  semidark- 

39 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

ness,  he  was  not  unprepossessing.      Incidentally,   he 
was  blushing  furiously. 

"  I'm — I'm  sure  I  beg  your  pardon,  ladies,"  he 

stammered.     "  I  scarcely  know  what  to  say  to  you. 
j " 

His  eyes  becoming  accustomed  to  the  light  in  the 
sitting  room,  he  was  now  able  to  see  his  captors  more 
clearly.  He  looked  at  Keziah,  then  at  Miss  Van 
Home,  and  another  wave  of  blushes  passed  from  his 
collar  up  into  the  roots  of  his  hair.  Grace  blushed, 
too,  though,  as  she  perfectly  well  knew,  there  was  no 
reason  why  she  should. 

Mrs.  Coffin  did  not  blush.  This  young  fellow, 
although  evidently  not  a  tramp  or  a  burglar,  had 
caused  her  some  moments  of  distinct  uneasiness,  and 
she  resented  the  fact. 

"  Well,"  she  observed  rather  tartly,  "  I'm  sorry 
you  don't  know  what  to  say,  but  perhaps  you  might 
begin  by  telling  us  who  you  are  and  what  you  mean 
by  makin'  a — er — dressin'  room  of  a  house  that 
don't  belong  to  you,  just  because  you  happened  to 
find  the  door  unlocked.  After  that  you  might  ex 
plain  why  you  didn't  speak  up  when  we  first  come, 
instead  of  keepin'  so  mighty  quiet.  That  looks  kind 
of  suspicious  to  me,  I  must  say." 

The  stranger's  answer  was  prompt  enough  now. 
It  was  evident  he  resented  the  suspicion. 

"  I  didn't  speak,"  he  said,  "  because  you  took  me 
by  surprise  and  I  wasn't,  as  I  explained — er — pre 
sentable.  Besides,  I  was  afraid  of  frightening  you. 
I  assure  you  I  hurried  as  fast  as  I  could,  quietly,  and 
when  you  began  to  talk  "  — his  expression  changed 
and  there  was  a  twitch  at  the  corner  of  his  mouth— 
"  I  tried  to  hurry  still  faster,  hoping  you  might  not 

40 


KEZIAH    UNEARTHS    A    PROWLER 

hear  me  and  I  could  make  my  appearance — or  my 
escape — sooner.  As  for  entering  the  house — well,  I 
considered  it,  in  a  way,  my  house;  at  least,  I  knew  I 
should  live  in  it  for  a  time,  and— 

"Live  in  it?"  repeated  Keziah.  "  Live  in  it? 
Why !  mercy  on  us !  you  don't  mean  to  say 
you're — 

She  stopped  to  look  at  Grace.  That  young  lady 
was  looking  at  her  with  an  expression  which,  as  it 
expressed  so  very  much,  is  beyond  ordinary  powers 
of  description. 

"  My  name  is  Ellery,"  said  the  stranger.  "  I  am 
the  minister  —  the  new  minister  of  the  Regular 
society." 

Then  even  Keziah  blushed. 


CHAPTER    III 

IN   WHICH   KEZIAH   ASSUMES   A    GUARDIANSHIP 

DIDAMA  would  have  given  her  eyeteeth— 
and,  for  that  matter,  the  entire  upper  set- 
to  have  been  present  in  that  parsonage  sit 
ting  room  when  the  Rev.  John  Ellery  made  his  ap 
pearance.  But  the  fates  were  against  Didama  that 
day  and  it  was  months  afterwards  before  she,  or  any 
of  what  Captain  Zeb  Mayo  called  the  "  Trumet 
Daily  Advertisers,"  picked  up  a  hint  concerning  it. 
Keziah  and  Grace,  acquainted  with  the  possibilities 
of  these  volunteer  news  gatherers,  were  silent,  and 
the  Reverend  John,  being  in  some  respects  a  discreet 
young  man  with  a  brand-new  ministerial  dignity  to 
sustain,  refrained  from  boasting  of  the  sensation  he 
had  caused.  He  thought  of  it  very  often,  usually  at 
most  inconvenient  times,  and  when,  by  all  the  re 
quirements  of  his  high  calling,  his  thought  should 
have  been  busy  with  different  and  much  less  worldly 
matters. 

"I  declare!"  said  Mrs.  Thankful  Payne,  after 
the  new  minister's  first  call  at  her  residence,  a  week 
after  his  arrival  at  Trumet,  "  if  Mr.  Ellery  ain't  the 
most  sympathetic  man.  I  was  readin'  out  loud  to 
him  the  poem  my  cousin  Huldy  B. — her  that  mar 
ried  Hannibal  Ellis  over  to  Denboro — made  up 

42 


KEZIAH    ASSUMES    A    GUARDIANSHIP 

when  my  second  husband  was  lost  to  sea,  and  I'd 
just  got  to  the  p'int  in  the  ninth  verse  where  it  says: 

'  The  cruel  billows  crash  and  roar, 

And  the  frail  craft  is  tempest-tossed, 
But  the  bold  manner  thinks  not  of  life,  but  says, 
"  It  is  the  fust  schooner  ever  I  lost."  ' 

And  'twas,  too,  and  the  last,  poor  thing!  Well,  I 
just  got  fur  as  this  when  I  looked  up  and  there  was 
the  minister  lookin'  out  of  the  window  and  his  face 
was  just  as  red,  and  he  kept  scowlin'  and  bitin'  his 
lips.  I  do  believe  he  was  all  but  sheddin'  tears. 
Sympathy  like  that  I  appreciate." 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  Mr.  Ellery  had  just  seen 
Grace  Van  Home  pass  that  window.  She  had  not 
seen  him,  but  for  the  moment  he  was  back  in  that 
disgusting  study,  making  a  frenzied  toilet  in  the  dusk 
and  obliged  to  overhear  remarks  pointedly  personal 
to  himself. 

Grace  left  the  parsonage  soon  after  the  supposed 
tramp  disclosed  his  identity.  Her  farewells  were 
hurried  and  she  firmly  refused  Mrs.  Coffin's  not  too- 
insistent  appeal  to  return  to  the  house  "  up  street " 
and  have  supper.  She  said  she  was  glad  to  meet  Mr. 
Ellery.  The  young  minister  affirmed  his  delight  in 
meeting  her.  Then  she  disappeared  in  the  misty  twi 
light  and  John  Ellery  surreptitiously  wiped  his  per 
spiring  forehead  with  his  cuff,  having  in  his  late 
desire  for  the  primal  necessities  forgotten  such  a 
trifling  incidental  as  a  handkerchief. 

;'  Well,  Mr.  Ellery,"  observed  Keziah,  turning 
to  her  guest,  or  employer,  or  incumbrance — at  pres 
ent  she  was  more  inclined  to  consider  him  the  latter 

43 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

— "  well,  Mr.  Ellery,  this  has  been  kind  of  unex 
pected  for  all  hands,  ain't  it?  If  I'd  known  you  was 
comin'  to-day,  I'd  have  done  my  best  to  have  things 
ready,  but  Cap'n  Elkanah  said  not  before  day  after 
to-morrow  and — but  there,  what's  the  use  of  talkin' 
that  way?  I  didn't  know  I  was  goin'  to  keep  house 
for  you  till  this  very  forenoon.  Mercy  me,  what  a 
day  this  has  been !  " 

The  minister  smiled  rather  one-sidedly. 

"  It's  been  something  of  a  day  for  me,"  he  ad 
mitted.  "  I  am  ahead  of  time  and  I've  made  a  lot  of 
trouble,  I'm  afraid.  But  yesterday  afternoon  I  was 
ready  and,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  was  eager  to  come 
and  see  my  new  home  and  get  at  my  work.  So 
I  started  on  the  morning  train.  Then  the  stage 
broke  down  and  I  began  to  think  I  was  stranded  at 
Bayport.  But  this  kind-hearted  chap  from  Well- 
mouth — I  believe  that's  where  he  lived — happened 
to  pull  up  to  watch  us  wrestling  with  the  smashed 
wheel,  and  when  he  found  I  was  in  a  hurry  to  get  to 
Trumet,  offered  to  give  me  a  lift.  His  name  was — 
was  Bird.  No,  that  wasn't  it,  but  it  was  something 
like  Bird,  or  some  kind  of  a  bird." 

"Bird?"        repeated        Keziah        thoughtfully. 
'  There's  no  Birds  that  I  know  of  in  Wellmouth. 
Hum!     Hey?     'Twa'n't  Sparrow,  was  it?  " 

"  That  was  it —     Sparrow." 

"  Good    land !      Emulous    Sparrow.      Run    con- 
sider'ble  to  whiskers  and  tongue,  didn't  he?" 

''  Why,  yes;  he  did  wear  a  beard.     As  for  tongue 
— well,   he   was   conversational,    if  that's   what   you 
mean." 

'That's  what  I  mean.     If  you  rode  twelve  mile 
with  Emulous,  you  must  have  had  an  earache  for  the 

44 


KEZIAH    ASSUMES    A    GUARDIANSHIP 

last  six.     Did  he  ask  a  question  or  two  about  your 
personal  affairs,  here  and  there  between  times?" 

Mr.  Ellery  laughed. 
'  Yes,  one  or  two,  between  times,"  he  admitted. 

"  I  shan't  die  of  surprise.  Did  you  tell  him  who 
you  was?  " 

"  No-o,  to  be  honest,  I  didn't.  He  was  so  very 
anxious  to  find  out,  that — well,  I  dodged.  I  think  he 
believed  I  was  going  to  visit  Captain  Daniels." 

"  Good  enough !  If  I  was  governor  of  this  state 
I  wouldn't  send  any  Thanksgivin'  proclamations 
down  this  way.  I'd  just  write  Em  Peters  and  Di- 
dama  Rogers  and  a  couple  more  like  them  and  save 
myself  the  trouble.  They'd  have  all  I  wanted  to 
proclaim  spread  from  one  end  of  the  county  to  the 
other  in  less'n  a  day,  and  a  peck  or  two  of  extrys 
pitched  in  for  good  measure.  I'm  awful  glad  you 
didn't  tell  Emulous  you  was  the  minister.  You  see, 
Trumet's  Trumet,  and,  considerin'  everything,  maybe 
it's  just  as  well  nobody  knows  about  your  bein'  shut 
up  in  that  study.  Not  but  what  'twas  all  right,  you 
know,  but— 

''  I  understand.  I'm  not  proud  of  it.  Still,  some 
one  may  have  seen  me  come  here." 

"  No,  no,  they  didn't.  This  fog  is  as  thick  as 
Injun-meal  puddin'.  Nobody  saw  you." 

"  Well,"  with  some  hesitation,  "  the  young  lady 
who  was  here  with  you — 

"Oh,  Grace  Van  Home!  She's  all  right.  She 
won't  tell.  She  ain't  that  kind." 

'  Van  Home  ?  That  doesn't  sound  like  a  New 
England  name." 

'Tisn't.      Her   folks   come    from   Jersey   some- 
wheres.     But  she  was  adopted  by  old  Cap'n  Ham- 

45 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

mond,  who  keeps  the  tavern  down  on  the  bay  shore 
by  the  packet  wharf,  and  she's  lived  in  Trumet  since 
she  was  six  years  old.  Her  father  was  Teunis  Van 
Home,  and  he  was  mate  on  Cap'n  Eben's  coastin' 
schooner  and  was  drowned  off  Hatteras.  Eben  was 
saved  just  by  the  skin  of  his  teeth  and  got  a  broken 
hip  and  religion  wrhile  it  happened.  His  hip's  better 
except  that  he's  some  lame;  biu  his  religion's  been 
more  and  more  feverish  ever  since.  He's  one  of  the 
head  Come-Outers,  and  built  their  chapel  with  his 
own  money.  You  mustn't  think  I'm  speakin'  lightly 
of  religion,  nor  of  Cap'n  Eben,  either.  He's  a  dear 
good  soul  as  ever  was,  but  he  is  the  narrowest  kind 
of  Come-Outer.  His  creed  is  just  about  as  wide  as 
the  chapel  door,  and  that's  as  narrow  as  the  way 
leadin'  to  salvation ;  it  is  the  way,  too,  so  the  Come- 
Outers  think." 

''What  are  Come-Outers?  Some  new  sect?" 
"  Sakes  alive!  Haven't  you  heard  of  Come- 
Outers?  Cat's  foot!  Well,  you'll  hear  of 'em  often 
enough  from  now  on.  They're  folks  who  used  to  go 
to  our  church,  the  Regular,  but  left  because  the  serv 
ices  was  too  worldly,  with  organs  and  choir  singin', 
and  the  road  to  paradise  too  easy.  No  need  for  me 
to  tell  you  any  more.  You'll  learn." 

Mr.  Ellery  was  interested.  He  had  been  in  Tru 
met  but  once  before,  on  the  occasion  when  he 
preached  his  trial  sermon,  and  of  that  memorable 
visit  remembered  little  except  the  sermon  itself,  the 
pews  filled  with  captains  and  their  families,  and  the 
awe-inspiring  personality  of  Captain  Elkanah  Dan 
iels,  who  had  been  his  host.  To  a  young  man,  the 
ink  upon  his  diploma  from  the  theological  school  still 
fresh,  a  trial  sermon  is  a  weighty  matter,  and  the 

46 


KEZIAH    ASSUMES    A    GUARDIANSHIP 

preaching  of  it  weightier  still.  He  had  rehearsed  it 
over  and  over  in  private,  had  delivered  it  almost 
through  clinched  teeth,  and  had  returned  to  his  room 
in  the  Boston  boarding  house  with  the  conviction  that 
it  was  an  utter  failure.  Captain  Elkanah  and  the 
gracious  Miss  Annabel,  his  daughter,  had  been  kind 
enough  to  express  gratification,  and  their  praise  alone 
saved  him  from  despair  Then,  to  his  amazement, 
the  call  had  come.  Of  casual  conversation  at  the 
church  and  about  the  Daniels's  table  he  could  recall 
nothing.  So  there  was  another  religious  organiza 
tion  in  town  and  that  made  up  of  seceders  from  his 
own  church.  He  was  surprised. 

"Er — this  Miss  Van  Home?"  he  asked.  "Is 
she  a — Come-Outer?" 

Mrs.  Coffin  nodded. 

'  Yes,"  she  said.  "  She's  one.  Couldn't  be  any 
thing  else  and  live  with  her  Uncle  Eben,  as  she  calls 
him." 

The  minister  experienced  a  curious  feeling  of  dis 
appointment  and  chagrin.  This  young  person,  al 
ready  predisposed  to  regard  a  clergyman  of  his  de 
nomination  with  disapproval,  had  seen  him  for  the 
first  time  under  most  humiliating  circumstances.  And 
he  should  never  have  the  opportunity  to  regain  her 
favor,  or  his  own  self-respect,  by  his  efforts  in  the 
pulpit.  No  matter  how  well  he  might  preach  she 
would  never  hear  him. 

"  Has  this  Captain  Hammond  no  children  of  his 
own?  "  he  asked. 

Keziah's   answer  was   short   for  her. 

"  Yes,"  she  said.     "  One." 

"  Ah  !  another  daughter?  " 

"  No,  a  son.     Name's  Nathaniel,  and  he's  a  sea 

47 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

captain.  He's  on  his  way  from  Surinam  to  New 
York  now.  They  expect  him  to  make  port  most  any 
time,  I  believe.  Now,  Mr.  Ellery,  I  s'pose  we've  got 
to  arrange  for  your  supper  and  stayin'  overnight; 
and  with  this  house  the  way  'tis  and  all,  /  don't 
see " 

But  the  minister  was  still  interested  in  the  Ham 
mond  household. 

"  This  Nathaniel  Hammond?  "  he  asked.  "  You 
don't  seem  enthusiastic  over  him.  Is  he  a  black 
sheep?  " 

This  reply  also  was  short,  but  emphatic. 

"  No,"  said  Keziah.     "  He's  a  fine  man." 

Then  she  resumed  her  semisoliloquy  concerning 
her  companion's  entertainment. 

"  I  guess,"  she  said,  "  that  the  best  thing  for  you 
to  do  will  be  to  go  to  Cap'n  Elkanah's.  They'll  be 
real  glad  to  see  you,  I  know,  and  you'll  be  in  time 
for  supper,  for  Elkanah  and  Annabel  have  been  to 
Denboro  and  they'll  be  late  home.  They  can  keep 
you  overnight,  too,  for  it's  a  big  house  with  lots  of 
rooms.  Then,  after  breakfast  to-morrow  you  come 
right  here.  I'll  have  things  somewhere  near  ship 
shape  by  then,  I  guess,  though  the  cleanin'll  have  to 
be  mainly  a  lick  and  a  promise  until  I  can  really  get 
at  it.  Your  trunk'll  be  here  on  the  coach,  I  s'pose, 
and  that'll  be  through  early  in  the  forenoon.  Get  on 
your  hat  and  coat  and  I'll  go  with  you  to  Elkanah's." 

The  young  man  demurred  a  little  at  thrusting 
himself  upon  the  hospitality  of  the  Daniels's  home, 
but  Keziah  assured  him  that  his  unexpected  coming 
would  cause  no  trouble.  So  he  entered  the  now  dark 
study  and  came  out  wearing  his  coat  and  carrying  his 
hat  and  valise  in  his  hand. 

48 


KEZIAH    ASSUMES    A    GUARDIANSHIP 

"  I'm  sure  I'm  ever  so  much  obliged  to  you,"  he 
said.  "  And,  as  we  are  going  to  be  more  or  less  to 
gether — or  at  least  I  guess  as  much  from  what  you 
say — would  you  mind  if  I  suggest  a  mutual  introduc 
tion.  I'm  John  Ellery;  you  know  that  already.  And 
you- 

Keziah  stopped  short  on  her  way  to  the  door. 

"  Well,  I  declare!  "  she  exclaimed.  "  If  I  ain't 
the  very  worst !  Fact  is,  you  dropped  in  so  ahead  of 
time  and  in  such  a  irregular  sort  of  way,  that  I  never 
once  thought  of  introducin'  anybody;  and  I'm  sure 
Grace  didn't.  I'm  Keziah  Coffin,  and  Cap'n  Elka- 
nah  and  I  signed  articles,  so  to  speak,  this  mornin', 
and  I'm  goin'  to  keep  house  for  you." 

She  explained  the  reason  upsetting  the  former 
arrangement  by  which  Lurania  Phelps  was  to  have 
had  the  position. 

"  So  I'm  to  keep  house  for  you,"  she  concluded. 
Adding:  "For  a  spell,  anyhow." 

"  Why  do  you  say  that?  "  asked  the  minister. 

"  Well,  you  might  not  like  me.  You  may  be  par 
ticular,  you  know." 

"  I  think  I  can  run  that  risk." 

"Yes;  well,  you  can't  tell.  Or  I  might  not  like 
you.  You  see,  I'm  pretty  particular  myself,"  she 
added  with  a  laugh. 

At  the  Daniels's  door  Keziah  turned  her  new 
charge  over  to  Matilda  Snow,  the  hired  girl.  It  was 
an  indication  of  the  family's  social  position  that  they 
kept  "  hired  help."  This  was  unusual  in  Trumet  in 
those  days,  even  among  the  well  to  do. 

"  Good  night,"  said  the  young  man,  extending 
his  hand.  "  Good  night,  Miss — or  is  it  Mrs. — 
Coffin?" 

5  49 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Mrs.     Good  night." 

"  She's  a  widow,"  explained  Matilda.  "  Hus 
band  died  'fore  she  come  back  here  to  live.  Guess  he 
didn't  amount  to  much;  she  never  mentions  his 
name." 

"  There  was  one  thing  I  meant  to  tell  her,"  mused 
the  minister,  hesitating  on  the  threshold.  "  I  meant 
to  tell  her  not  to  attempt  any  cleaning  up  at  the  par 
sonage  to-night.  To-morrow  will  do  just  as  well." 

"  Heavens  to  Betsy!  "  sniffed  the  "  hired  help," 
speaking  from  the  depths  of  personal  conviction, 
"  nobody  but  a  born  fool  would  clean  house  in  the 
night,  'specially  after  the  cleanin'  she's  been  doin'  at 
her  own  place.  I  guess  you  needn't  worry." 

So  Mr.  Ellery  did  not  worry.  And  yet,  until 
three  o'clock  of  the  following  morning,  the  dull  light 
of  a  whale-oil  lantern  illuminated  the  rooms  of  the 
parsonage  as  Keziah  scrubbed  and  swept  and  washed, 
giving  to  the  musty  place  the  "  lick  and  promise  " 
she  had  prophesied.  If  the  spiders  had  prepared 
those  ascension  robes,  they  could  have  used  them  that 
night. 

After  breakfast  the  wagons  belonging  to  the 
Wellmouth  furniture  dealer  drove  in  at  the  gate  of 
the  little  house  opposite  Captain  Elkanah's,  and  Ke 
ziah  saw,  with  a  feeling  of  homesickness  which  she 
hid  beneath  smiles  and  a  rattle  of  conversation,  the 
worn  household  treasures  which  had  been  hers,  and 
her  brother's  before  her,  carried  away  out  of  her  life. 
Then  her  trunks  were  loaded  on  the  tailboards  of  the 
wagons,  to  be  left  at  the  parsonage,  and  with  a  sigh 
and  a  quick  brush  of  her  hand  across  her  eyes,  she 
locked  the  door  for  the  last  time  and  walked  briskly 
down  the  road.  Soon  afterwards  John  Ellery,  under 

5° 


the  eminently  respectable  escort  of  Captain  Elkanah 
and  Miss  Annabel,  emerged  from  the  Daniels's  gate 
and  followed  her.  Mrs.  Didama  Rogers,  thankful 
for  a  clear  atmosphere  and  an  unobstructed  view,  saw 
them  pass  and  recognized  the  stranger.  And,  within 
a  quarter  of  an  hour,  she,  arrayed  in  a  hurried  call 
ing  costume,  was  spreading  the  news  along  the  main 
road.  The  "  Trumet  Daily  Advertiser  "  had,  so  to 
speak,  issued  an  extra. 

Thus  the  new  minister  came  to  Trumet  and  thus 
Keziah  Coffin  became  his  housekeeper.  She  entered 
upon  her  duties  with  the  whole-hearted  energy  pecu 
liar  to  her.  She  was  used  to  hard  work,  and,  as  she 
would  have  said,  felt  lonesome  without  it.  She 
cleaned  that  parsonage  from  top  to  bottom.  Every 
blind  was  thrown  open  and  the  spring  sunshine 
poured  in  upon  the  braided  mats  and  the  rag  carpets. 
Dust  flew  in  clouds  for  the  first  day  or  two,  but  it  flew 
out  of  windows  and  doors  and  was  not  allowed  to 
settle  within.  The  old  black  walnut  furniture  glis 
tened  with  oil.  The  mirrors  and  the  crockery 
sparkled  from  baths  of  hot  water  and  soap.  Even 
St.  Stephen,  in  the  engravings  on  the  dining-room 
wall,  was  forced  to  a  martyrdom  of  the  fullest  pub 
licity,  because  the  spots  and  smears  on  the  glass  cov 
ering  his  sufferings  were  violently  removed.  In  the 
sleeping  rooms  upstairs  the  feather  beds  were  beaten 
and  aired,  the  sheets  and  blankets  and  patch'work 
comforters  exposed  to  the  light,  and  the  window  cur 
tains  dragged  down  and  left  to  flap  on  the  clothes 
line.  The  smell  of  musty  dampness  disappeared 
from  the  dining  room  and  the  wholesome  odors  of 
outdoors  and  of  good  things  cooking  took  its 
place. 

51 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Keziah,  in  the  midst  of  her  labors,  found  time 
to  coach  her  employer  and  companion  in  Trumet 
ways,  and  particularly  in  the  ways  which  Trumet  ex 
pected  its  clergymen  to  travel.  On  the  morning  fol 
lowing  his  first  night  in  the  parsonage,  he  expressed 
himself  as  feeling  the  need  of  exercise.  He  thought 
he  should  take  a  walk. 

'  Well,"  said  his  housekeeper  from  her  station 
opposite  him  at  the  breakfast  table,  "  if  I  was  you  I 
wouldn't  take  too  long  a  one.  You'd  better  be  back 
here  by  ten,  anyhow.  Where  was  you  thinkin'  of 
goin'  ?  " 

Mr.  Ellery  had  no  particular  destination  in  mind. 
He  would  like  to  see  something  of  the  village  and, 
perhaps,  if  she  could  give  him  the  names  of  a  few  of 
his  parishioners,  he  might  make  a  few  calls.  Keziah 
shook  her  head. 

"  Gracious  goodness !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  I 
wouldn't  advise  you  to  do  that.  You  ain't  been  here 
long  enough  to  make  forenoon  calls.  If  you  should 
catch  some  of  the  women  in  this  town  with  aprons 
and  calico  on,  they'd  never  forgive  you  in  this  world. 
Wait  till  afternoon;  they'll  be  expectin'  you  then  and 
they'll  be  rigged  out  in  their  best  bibs  and  tuckers. 
S'pose  you  found  Annabel  Daniels  with  her  hair 
done  up  in  curl  papers ;  what  do  you  think  would  hap 
pen?  Mornin's  are  no  time  for  ministers'  calls. 
Even  old  Mr.  Langley  never  made  calls  in  the  fore 
noon — and  he'd  been  here  thirty-odd  years." 

"  All  right,  you  know  best.  Much  obliged  for 
the  advice.  Then  I'll  simply  take  my  walk  and  leave 
the  calls  until  later." 

"  I'd  be  back  by  ten,  though.  Folks'll  begin  call- 
in'  on  you  by  that  time." 


KEZIAH   ASSUMES    A    GUARDIANSHIP 

"They  will?  Doesn't  the  rule  work  both 
ways?  " 

"  Not  with  new  ministers  it  don't.  Cat's  foot ! 
You  don't  s'pose  Didama  Rogers  and  Laviny  Pepper 
and  their  kind'll  wait  any  longer'n  they  can  help 
afore  they  come  to  see  what  you  look  like,  do  you?  " 

"  Well,  they  must  have  seen  me  when  I  preached 
here  before.  I  remember — 

"Mercy  on  us!  that  was  in  meetin'.  Meetin's 
diff'rent.  All  they  could  say  to  you  then  was  how 
much  they  liked  your  sermon.  They  say  that  to 
every  minister  that  comes,  no  matter  how  they  may 
pick  him  to  pieces  afterwards.  But  here  they  can  ask 
you  questions;  about  how  you  came  to  come  here  and 
what  you  think  of  it  far's  you've  got,  and  what  your 
views  are  on  certain  points  in  the  creed.  Likewise, 
who  your  folks  were  and  whether  they  was  well  off, 
and  a  few  things  like  that.  Then  they'll  want  to  see 
what  kind  of  clothes  you  wear  and— 

"Whew!"  Ellery  whistled.  "You're  unfold 
ing  a  pleasant  prospect  for  me,  I  must  say.  Am  I 
supposed  to  be  catechized  on  all  of  my  private 
affairs?" 

"  Of  course !  A  minister  hasn't  got  any  private 
affairs;  he's  a  public  character.  There  !  "  she  laughed, 
as  she  poured  the  coffee,  "  I  mustn't  discourage  you. 
But  don't  you  see  that  every  mother's  son — and,  for 
that  matter,  every  daughter  and  children's  child  unto 
the  third  and  fourth  generation — feel  that,  so  long  as 
they  pay  pew  rent  or  put  a  cent  in  the  collection, 
they  own  a  share  in  you.  And  we  always  keep  a 
watch  on  our  investments  down  this  way.  That's 
the  Yankee  shrewdness  you  read  so  much  about,  I 
guess." 

53 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

The  minister  absently  played  with  his  spoon. 

"  I'm  afraid  you're  a  cynic,"  he  said. 

"  No,  no,  I  ain't.  Though  sometimes,  consid- 
erin'  everything,  I  feel  as  though  I  had  excuse 
enough  if  I  wanted  to  belong  to  that  tribe.  But 
you're  young.  You  mustn't  mind  my  sayin'  that;  if 
you  was  old,  of  course,  I  wouldn't  talk  about  ages. 
But  you  are  young  and  this  is  your  first  church.  So 
you  must  start  right.  I'm  no  cynic,  bless  you.  I've 
got  trust  in  human  nature  left — most  kinds  of  human 
nature.  If  I  hadn't,  I'd  have  more  money,  I  s'pose. 
Perhaps  you've  noticed  that  those  who  trust  a  good 
deal  are  usually  poor.  It's  all  right,  Mr.  Ellery;  you 
go  and  take  your  walk.  And  I'll  walk  into  that  pan 
try  closet.  It'll  be  a  good  deal  like  walkin'  into  the 
Slough  of  Despond,  but  Christian  came  out  on  the 
other  side  and  I  guess  likely  I  will,  if  the  supply  of 
soapsuds  holds  out." 

When,  promptly  at  ten  o'clock,  the  minister  re 
turned  from  his  walk,  he  found  Mrs.  Rogers  waiting 
in  the  sitting  room.  It  is  a  prime  qualification  of  an 
alert  reporter  to  be  first  on  the  scene  of  sensation. 
Didama  was  seldom  beaten.  Mr.  Ellery's  catechism 
began.  Before  it  was  over  Keziah  opened  the  door 
to  admit  Miss  Pepper  and  her  brother.  "  Kyan  " 
was  nervous  and  embarrassed  in  the  housekeeper's 
presence.  Lavinia  was  a  glacier,  moving  majestic 
ally  and  freezing  as  it  moved.  Keziah,  however,  was 
not  even  touched  by  the  frost;  she  greeted  the 
pair  cordially,  and  begged  them  to  "  take  off  their 
things." 

It  was  dinner  time  before  the  catechizers  de 
parted.  The  catechized  came  to  the  table  with  an 
impaired  appetite.  He  looked  troubled. 

54 


KEZIAH    ASSUMES    A    GUARDIANSHIP 

"  Don't  let  it  worry  you,  Mr.  Ellery,"  observed 
Keziah  calmly.  "  I  think  I  can  satisfy  you.  Honest 
and  true,  I  ain't  half  as  bad  as  you  might  think." 

The  minister  looked  more  troubled  than  before; 
also  surprised. 

"  Why,  Mrs.  Coffin !  "  he  cried.  "  Could  you 
hear- 

"  No,  no !  I  couldn't  hear  nothin'  in  that  closet 
except  my  own  opinion  on  dirt  and  dust.  But  if  I 
was  as  deaf  as  the  man  that  set  on  the  powder  keg 
and  dropped  his  pipe  ashes  into  it,  it  wouldn't  have 
made  any  difference.  The  man  said  after  they  picked 
him  up  that  they  needn't  have  been  so  rough,  he'd 
have  moved  without  bein'  pushed  if  they'd  have 
made  signs  they  wanted  to  use  the  keg.  And  if  I  was 
out  in  the  next  lot  I'd  have  known  what  you  was  lis- 
tenin'  to  in  that  sittin'  room.  They  hinted  that  they 
were  real  sorry  for  you,  but  'twasn't  any  of  their 
doin's.  The  parish  committee,  bein'  just  men,  was 
apt  to  make  mistakes  in  certain  matters.  Of  course 
everything  might  be  well  enough,  and  if  you  wa'n't 
too  particular  about  cookin'  and  so  on,  why —  Any 
how,  you  mustn't  think  that  they  were  criticism'. 
'Twas  only  that  they  took  an  interest  and —  That 
was  about  it,  wasn't  it?  " 

"  Mrs.  Coffin,  I — I  hope  you  don't  think  I  paid 
any  attention  to  their  remarks — of  that  kind,  I  mean. 
Honestly,  I  did  my  best  to  stop  them.  I  said— 

"  Man  alive !  I'm  not  worried.  Why  should 
you  be  ?  We  were  talkin'  about  trust  just  now — or  I 
was.  Well,  you  and  I'll  have  to  take  each  other  on 
trust  for  a  while,  until  we  see  whether  we're  goin'  to 
suit.  If  you  see  anything  that  I'm  goin'  wrong  in,  I 
wish  you'd  tell  me.  And  I'll  do  the  same  by  you,  if 

55 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

that's  agreeable.  You'll  hear  a  lot  of  things  said 
about  me,  but  if  they're  very  bad  I  give  you  my  word 
they  ain't  true.  And,  to  be  real  frank,  I'll  probably 
hear  some  about  you,  which  I'll  take  for  what  they're 
worth  and  considerin'  who  said  'em.  That's  a  good 
wholesome  agreement,  I  think,  for  both  of  us.  What 
do  you  think?  " 

John  Ellery  said,  with  emphasis,  that  he  thought 
well  of  it.  He  began  to  realize  that  this  woman, 
with  her  blunt  common  sense,  was  likely  to  be  a 
pilot  worth  having  in  the  difficult  waters  which  he 
must  navigate  as  skipper  of  the  Regular  church  in 
Trumet.  Also,  he  began  to  realize  that,  as  such  a 
skipper,  he  was  most  inexperienced.  And  Captain 
Daniels  had  spoken  highly — condescendingly  but 
highly — of  his  housekeeper's  qualifications  and  per 
sonality.  So  the  agreement  was  ratified,  with  relief 
on  his  part. 

The  first  Sunday  came  and  with  it  the  first  ser 
mon.  He  read  that  sermon  to  Keziah  on  Saturday 
evening  and  she  approved  of  it  as  a  whole,  though 
she  criticised  some  of  its  details. 

"  Don't  be  afraid  to  put  in  plenty  of  salt,"  she 
said.  "  Where  you've  got  the  Christian  life  and 
spirit  written  down  as  bein'  like  a  quiet,  peaceful 
home,  free  from  all  distrust,  and  like  that,  why  don't 
you  change  it  to  a  good  safe  anchorage,  where  the 
soul  can  ride  forever  without  fear  of  breakers  or 
no'theasters  or  the  dangers  besettin'  the  mariner  on 
a  lee  shore.  They'll  understand  that;  it  gets  right 
home  to  'em.  There's  scarcely  a  man  or  a  woman 
in  your  congregation  that  ain't  been  out  of  sight  of 
land  for  weeks  on  a  stretch." 

The  breakfast  hour  on  Sunday  would  be  at  nine 
56 


KEZIAH    ASSUMES    A    GUARDIANSHIP 

o'clock,  instead  of  seven,  as  on  week  days,  she  told 
him. 

"  Trumet  lays  to  bed  Sunday  mornin's,"  she  ex 
plained.  "  It's  almost  a  part  of  its  religion,  as  you 
might  say,  and  lived  up  to  more  conscientious  than 
some  other  parts,  I'm  afraid.  Six  days  shalt  thou 
labor  and  wear  comfort'ble  clothes;  and  on  the  sev 
enth  you  must  be  lazy  and  dress  up.  Likewise  you 
must  have  baked  beans  Saturday  for  supper,  as  we're 
havin'  'em,  and  more  beans  with  fish  balls  next 
mornin'.  That  is,  if  you  want  to  be  orthodox." 

The  service  began  at  eleven  o'clock.  At  half 
past  ten  the  sexton,  old  Mr.  Jubal  Knowles,  rang 
the  "  first  bell,"  a  clanging  five-minute  reminder. 
Twenty  minutes  later  he  began  on  the  second  and 
final  call.  Mr.  Ellery  was  ready — and  nervous — 
before  the  first  bell  had  finished  ringing.  But  Ke- 
ziah,  entering  the  sitting  room  dressed  in  black  alpaca 
and  carrying  the  hymn  book  with  her  name  in  gilt 
letters  on  the  cover,  forbade  his  leaving  the  parson 
age  thus  early. 

"  I  shall  go  pretty  soon,"  she  said,  "  but  you 
mustn't.  The  minister  ain't  expected  until  the  last 
bell's  'most  done.  Parson  Langley  used  to  wait  until 
the  Winslows  went  in.  Gaius  Winslow  is  a  widower 
man  who  lives  up  to  the  west  end  of  the  town  and 
he's  got  nine  children,  all  boys.  You'll  know  'em 
because  they  always  drive  down  to  meetin'  in  one 
carryall  with  a  white  horse.  Gaius  is  as  punctual  as 
a  boardin'-house  dinner.  The  old  parson  used  to 
wait  until  the  last  Winslow  had  toddled  up  the 
meetin'-house  steps  and  then  he'd  come  out  of  this 
side  door  with  his  sermon  in  his  hand.  It's  a  pretty 
good  rule  to  remember  and  saves  watchin'  the  clock. 

57 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Besides,  it's  what  we've  been  used  to,  and  that  goes 
a  good  ways  with  some  folks.  Good-by,  Mr.  Ellery. 
You'll  see  me  in  the  third  pew  from  the  back,  on 
the  right  side,  wishin'  you  luck  just  as  hard  as  I 
can." 

So,  as  in  couples  or  family  groups,  afoot  or  in  all 
sorts  of  vehicles,  the  members  of  Trumet's  Regular 
society  came  to  the  church  to  hear  their  new  minister, 
that  functionary  peeped  under  the  parlor  window 
shade  of  the  parsonage  and  waited,  fidgetting  and 
apprehensive,  for  the  Winslows.  They  arrived  at 
last,  and  were  not  hard  to  recognize,  for  ten  individ 
uals  packed  into  one  carriage  are  hard  to  overlook 
anywhere.  As  Gaius,  with  the  youngest  in  his  arms, 
passed  in  at  the  church  door,  John  Ellery  passed  out 
of  the  parsonage  gate.  The  last  bell  clanged  its 
final  stroke,  the  vibrations  ceased,  the  rustle  of  skirts 
and  the  sounds  of  decorous  coughing  subsided  and 
were  succeeded  by  the  dry  rattle  of  the  hymn-book 
pages,  the  organ,  presented  by  Captain  Elkanah 
and  played  by  his  daughter,  uttered  its  preliminary 
groan,  the  service  began. 

Outside  the  spring  breeze  stirred  the  budding 
silver-leafs,  the  distant  breakers  grumbled,  the  crows 
in  the  pines  near  Captain  Eben  Hammond's  tavern 
cawed  ribald  answers  to  the  screaming  gulls  perched 
along  the  top  of  the  breakwater.  And  seated  on 
one  of  the  hard  benches  of  the  little  Come-Outer 
chapel,  Grace  Van  Home  heard  her  "  Uncle  Eben," 
who,  as  usual,  was  conducting  the  meeting,  speak 
of  "  them  who,  in  purple  and  fine  linen,  with  organs 
and  trumpets  and  vain  shows,  are  gathered  elsewhere 
in  this  community  to  hear  a  hired  priest  make  a 
mock  of  the  gospel."  (A-men!) 

58 


KEZIAH   ASSUMES    A    GUARDIANSHIP 

But  John  Ellery,  the  "  hired  priest,"  knew  noth 
ing  of  this.  He  did  know,  however,  that  he  was  the 
center  of  interest  for  his  own  congregation,  the 
people  among  whom  he  had  been  called  to  labor. 
Their  praise  or  criticism  meant  everything  to  him; 
therefore  he  preached  for  dear  life. 

And  Keziah  Coffin,  in  the  third  pew  from  the 
back,  watched  him  intently,  her  mind  working  in 
sympathetic  unison  with  his.  She  was  not  one  to  be 
greatly  influenced  by  first  impressions,  but  she  had 
been  favorably  impressed  by  this  young  fellow,  and 
had  already  begun  to  feel  that  sense  of  guardianship 
and  personal  responsibility  which,  later  on,  was  to 
make  Captain  Zebedee  Mayo  nickname  the  minister 
"  Keziah's  Parson." 

The  sermon  was  a  success. 


CHAPTER    IV 

IN  WHICH  KEZIAH'S  PARSON  DECIDES  TO  RUN  IT 
BLINDFOLD 

ON   Monday  afternoon  the  minister  made  a 
few  calls.      Keziah  made  out   a  short  list 
for  him  to  follow,  a  "  sort  of  chart  of  the 
main  channel,"   she  called  it,   "  with  the  safe  ports 
marked  and  the  shoals  and  risky  places  labeled  dan 
gerous." 

'  You  see,"  she  said,  "  Trumet  ain't  a  course 
you  can  navigate  with  your  eyes  shut.  We  divide 
ourselves  into  about  four  sets — aristocrats,  poor  rela 
tions,  town  folks,  and  scum.  The  aristocrats  are 
the  big  bugs  like  Cap'n  Elkanah  and  the  other  well- 
off  sea  captains,  afloat  or  ashore.  They  'most  all  go 
to  the  Regular  church  and  the  parish  committee  is 
steered  by  'em.  The  poor  relations  are  mainly 
widows  and  such,  whose  husbands  died  or  were  lost 
at  sea.  Most  of  them  are  Regulars.  The  town 
folks  are  those  that  stay  ashore  and  keep  store  or 
run  salt  works  or  somethin'.  And  the  scum  work 
around  on  odd  jobs  or  go  fishin'.  So,  if  you  really 
want  to  be  safe,  you  must  call  on  the  aristocrats  first, 
after  that  on  the  poor  relations,  and  so  on  down. 
You  won't  be  bothered  with  scum  much;  they're 
mainly  Come-Outers." 

60 


KEZIAH'S    PARSON    DECIDES 

Ellery  took  the  list  from  her  hand  and  looked  it 
over. 

"  Hum !  "  he  said  musingly.  "  Am  I  supposed 
to  recognize  these — er — class  distinctions?" 

"  Yes.  That  is,  not  in  meetin'  or  sewin'  circle  or 
anything  like  that,  or  not  out  and  out  and  open  any 
where.  But  you  want  to  cultivate  a  sort  of  different 
handshake  and  how-dy-do  for  each  set,  so's  to  speak. 
Gush  all  you  want  to  over  an  aristocrat.  Be  thankful 
for  advice  and  always  so  glad  to  see  'em.  With  the 
poor  relations  you  can  ease  up  on  the  gush  and  maybe 
condescend  some.  Town  folks  expect  condescension 
and  superiority;  give  it  to  'em.  When  it  comes  to 
scum,  why — well,  any  short  kind  of  a  bow  and  a 
'  'Mornin'  '  '11  do  for  them.  'Course  the  Lord,  in 
His  infinite  mercy,  made  'em,  same  as  He  did  potato 
bugs,  but  it's  necessary  to  keep  both  bugs  and  them 
down  to  their  proper  place." 

She  delivered  this  in  the  intervals  between  trips 
to  the  kitchen  with  the  dinner  dishes.  The  minister 
listened  with  a  troubled  expression  on  his  face. 

"  Mrs.  Coffin,"  he  said,  "  I  guess  I'm  dull. 
There  was  a  Scotch  professor  at  college  and  the 
fellows  used  to  say  his  bump  of  humor  was  a  dent. 
Maybe  mine  isn't  much  better.  Are  you  joking?  " 

Keziah  stacked  the  cups  and  saucers. 

u  I  ain't  jokin',"  she  declared.  "  I've  been  a 
poor  relation  in  this  village  for  a  good  while  and 
my  brother  was  a  shoemaker  and  on  the  upper  fringe 
of  the  town-folk  class.  My  humor  bump  would  have 
to  stick  up  like  Cannon  Hill  afore  I  could  see  any 
joke  in  that." 

"  But  you're  not  seriously  advising  me  to  treat  a 
rich  man  differently  from  a  poor  one?" 

61 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Not  openly  different — no.  But  if  you  want  to 
steer  a  perfectly  safe  course,  one  that'll  keep  deep 
water  under  your  keel  the  whole  voyage,  why,  there's 
your  chart." 

Mr.  Ellery  promptly  tore  the  "  chart "  into  small 
pieces. 

"  I'm  going  out,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  be  back  by 
supper  time." 

Mrs.  Coffin  eyed  him  grimly. 

"  Coin'  to  run  it  blindfold,  are  you?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  I  am." 

Her  grimness  disappeared  and  she  smiled. 

"  I'll  have  your  supper  ready  for  you,"  she  said. 
"  Bring  back  a  good  appetite." 

The  young  man  hesitated  on  the  threshold. 

"  Mrs.  Coffin,"  he  demanded,  "  would  you  have 
called  only  on  the  aristocrats  at  first?  " 

She  shook  her  head,  smiling  still. 

"  No,"  she  replied,  "  not  me.  I've  always  taken 
risks.  But  I  didn't  know  but  you  might  be  a  safe 
sailor.  It  saves  a  lot  of  trouble  in  this  world." 

"  How  about  the  next?" 

"  Oh,  well,  perhaps  even  the  scum  may  count  for 
somethin'  over  there."  She  turned  to  face  him  and 
her  smile  vanished.  "  Go  on,  Mr.  Ellery,"  she  said. 
"  Go  and  call  where  you  please.  Far  be  it  from  me 
that  I  should  tell  you  to  do  anything  else.  I  suppose 
likely  you  hope  some  day  to  be  a  great  preacher.  I 
hope  you  will.  But  I'd  enough  sight  rather  you  was 
a  good  man  than  the  very  greatest.  No  reason  why 
you  can't  be  both.  There  was  a  preacher  over  in 
Galilee  once,  so  you  told  us  yesterday,  who  was  just 
good.  'Twa'n't  till  years  afterwards  that  the  crowd 
came  to  realize  that  he  was  great,  too.  And,  if  I 

62 


KEZIAH'S   PARSON    DECIDES 

recollect  right,  he  chummed  in  with  publicans  and 
sinners.  I'm  glad  you  tore  up  that  fool  paper  of 
mine.  I  hoped  you  might  when  I  gave  it  to  you. 
Now  you  run  along,  and  I'll  wash  dishes.  If  clean 
liness  is  next  to  godliness,  then  a  parson  ought  to 
eat  out  of  clean  plates." 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  minister's  calls  were  in 
the  nature  of  a  compromise,  although  an  uninten 
tional  one.  He  dropped  in  on  Zebedee  Mayo, 
owner  of  the  big  house  on  the  slope  of  the  hill. 
Captain  Zeb  took  him  up  into  what  he  called  his 
"  cupoler,"  the  observatory  on  the  top  of  the  house, 
and  showed  him  Trumet  spread  out  like  a  map.  The 
main  road  was  north  and  south,  winding  and  twisting 
its  rutted,  sandy  way.  Along  it  were  clustered  the 
principal  houses  and  shops,  shaded  by  silver-leaf 
poplars,  a  few  elms,  and  some  willows  and  spruces. 
Each  tree  bent  slightly  away  from  the  northeast, 
the  direction  from  which  blew  the  heavy  winter  gales. 
Beyond  the  main  road  were  green  slopes  and  pas 
tures,  with  swamps  in  the  hollows,  swamps  which 
were  to  be  cranberry  bogs  in  the  days  to  come.  Then 
the  lower  road,  with  more  houses,  and,  farther  on, 
the  beach,  the  flats — partially  uncovered  because  it 
was  high  tide — and  the  bay. 

Behind  the  Mayo  house  was  the  crest  of  Cannon 
Hill,  more  hills,  pastures  and  swamps,  scattered 
houses  and  pine  groves.  Then  began  the  tumbled, 
humped  waste  of  sand  dunes,  and,  over  their  ragged 
fringes  of  beach  plum  and  bayberry  bushes,  the  deep 
blue  of  the  wide  Atlantic.  The  lighthouse  was  a 
white  dot  and  the  fish  shanties  a  blotch  of  brown. 
Along  the  inner  edge  of  the  blue  were  scars  of 
dancing  white,  the  flashing  teeth  of  hungry  shoals 

63 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

which  had  torn  to  pieces  and  swallowed  many  a 
good  ship.  And,  far  out,  dotted  and  sprinkled 
along  the  horizon,  were  sails. 

"  See?"  said  Captain  Zeb,  puffing  still  from  the 
exertion  of  climbing  the  ladder  to  the  "  cupoler,"  for 
he  was  distinctly  "  fleshy."  "  See?  The  beacon's  up. 
Packet  come  in  this  mornin'.  There  she  is.  See 
her  down  there  by  the  breakwater?  " 

Sure  enough,  the  empty  barrel,  painted  red,  was 
hoisted  to  the  top  of  its  pole  on  the  crest  of  Cannon 
Hill.  And,  looking  down  at  the  bay  and  following 
the  direction  of  the  stubby  pointing  finger,  Ellery 
saw  a  little  schooner,  with  her  sails  lowered,  lying, 
slightly  on  her  side,  in  a  shallow  pool  near  a  long 
ridge  of  piled  stones — the  breakwater.  A  small 
wharf  made  out  from  the  shore  and  black  figures 
moved  briskly  upon  it.  Carts  were  alongside  the 
schooner  and  there  more  dots  were  busy. 

"  Eben's  pennant's  flyin',"  said  Captain  Zeb. 
"  He  always  sets  colors  when  the  packet's  in.  Keeps 
packet  tavern,  Eben  does.  That's  it,  that  old-fash 
ioned,  gambrel-roofed  house  on  the  rise  by  the  wharf. 
Call  it  '  Saints'  Rest,'  they  do  now,  'cause  Eben's  so 
mighty  religious." 

The  minister  saw  the  long,  rambling  house,  with 
one  lonely,  twisted  tree  in  its  yard,  a  flag  flying  from 
a  pole  beside  it.  So  that  was  where  the  Hammonds 
lived.  And  where  the  girl  lived  who  was  certain 
he  was  a  "  conceited  snippet."  Whatever  he  might 
be  in  reality  he  hoped  it  was  not  that.  "  Snippet  " 
was  not  in  his  dictionary,  but  he  didn't  like  the 
sound  of  it. 

'Who  owns  the  packet?"   he  asked,   to  make 
conversation. 

64 


KEZIAH'S    PARSON    DECIDES 

"  Zach  Foster.  Married  Freewill  Doane's 
daughter  over  to  Harniss.  She's  dead  now." 

"  A  good  sailor,  is  he?  " 

Captain  Zeb  spat  in  supreme  disgust. 

"  Good  farmer!  "  he  snorted.  "  Zach  took  over 
the  packet  for  a  debt  when  the  chap  that  used  to 
run  her  died.  His  dad,  old  man  Foster,  raised 
garden  truck  at  the  same  time  mine  went  to  sea. 
Both  of  us  took  after  our  fathers,  I  guess.  Anyhow, 
my  wife  says  that  when  I  die  'twill  be  of  salt  water 
on  the  brain,  and  I'm  sure  Zach's  head  is  part  cab 
bage.  Been  better  for  him  if  he'd  stuck  to  his 
garden.  However,  I  s'pose  he  does  his  best." 
'  They  say  angels  can  do  no  more." 

"  Um-m.  Well,  Zach'll  be  an  angel  pretty  soon 
if  he  keeps  on  cruisin'  with  that  old  hooker  as  she  is. 
'Bijah  Perry,  he's  mate  and  the  only  good  seaman 
aboard,  tells  me  that  most  of  the  riggin's  rotten  and 
the  main  topmast  ain't  sound,  by  a  good  deal.  The 
old  man's  put  off  havin'  her  overhauled  for  two 
reasons,  one  that  repairs  cost  money,  and  t'other  that 
puttin'  off  is  the  main  sheet  of  his  gospel.  When 
there's  no  rain  the  roof  don't  leak  and  long's  it 
don't  blow  too  hard  'most  any  kind  of  gear'll  hold. 
That's  philosophy — cabbage  philosophy." 

Ellery  decided  that  he  should  like  Captain  Zeb, 
although  it  was  evident  that  the  old  whaler  had 
decided  opinions  of  his  own  which  he  did  not  hesi 
tate  to  express.  He  judged  that  the  Mayos  were 
of  the  so-called  aristocracy,  but  undoubtedly  unique 
specimens.  He  visited  four  more  households  that 
afternoon.  The  last  call  was  at  Mrs.  Thankful 
Payne's,  and  while  there,  listening  to  the  wonderful 
"  poem,"  he  saw  Miss  Van  Home  pass  the  window, 

6  65 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

as  has  already  been  told.  He  came  home  to  a  Cape 
Cod  supper  of  scalloped  clams,  hot  biscuits,  and 
baked  Indian  pudding,  and  Keziah  greeted  him  with 
a  cheery  smile  which  made  him  feel  that  it  was  home. 
His  summary  disposal  of  the  "  chart  "  had  evidently 
raised  him  in  his  housekeeper's  estimation.  She  did 
not  ask  a  single  question  as  to  where  he  had  been. 

Next  day  he  had  a  taste  of  Trumet's  real  aris 
tocracy,  the  genuine  article.  Captain  Elkanah  Dan 
iels  and  his  daughter  made  their  first  formal  call. 
The  captain  was  majestic  in  high  hat,  fur-collared 
cape,  tailed  coat,  and  carrying  a  gold-headed  cane. 
Miss  Annabel  wore  her  newest  gown  and  bonnet 
and  rustled  as  she  walked.  They  entered  the  sitting 
room  and  the  lady  glanced  superciliously  about  the 
apartment. 

"  Hum — ha  !  "  barked  Captain  Elkanah. 
"  Ahem !  Mr.  Ellery,  I  trust  you're  being  made 
comfortable.  The  parish  committee  are — hum — ah 
— anxious  that  you  should  be.  Yes?" 

The  minister  said  that  he  was  very  comfortable 
indeed. 

"  It  isn't  what  you've  been  used  to,  we  know," 
observed  Miss  Annabel.  "  Mr.  Langley,  our  former 
pastor,  was  a  sweet  old  gentleman,  but  he  was  old- 
fashioned  and  his  tastes  were  queer,  especially  in 
art.  Have  you  noticed  that  '  fruit  piece '  in  the 
dining  room?  Isn't  it  too  ridiculous?  " 

Ellery  admitted  that  the  fruit  piece  was  rather 

funny;  but  no  doubt  it  had  been  a  gift  and  so 

'  Yes,  indeed.  I  guess  it  was  a  present,  fast 
enough.  Nobody  would  buy  such  a  thing.  It  seems 
strange  to  pa  and  me  that,  although  so  many  of  our 
people  have  been  abroad,  they  have  such  strange 

66 


KEZIAH'S    PARSON    DECIDES 

ideas  of  art.  Do  you  remember  the  beautiful  marbles 
in  the  palaces  at  Florence,  Mr.  Ellery?  Of  course 
you've  seen  them?  " 

The  minister  was  obliged  to  admit  that  he  had 
never  been  abroad. 

"  Oh,  is  that  so?  I've  been  so  many  times  with 
pa  that  it  seems  almost  as  if  everybody  was  as 
familiar  with  Yurrup  as  I  am.  You  remember  what 
I  said  about  the  marbles,  pa?" 

Her  parent  nodded. 

"  Hum— ha  !  Oh,  yes,  yes,"  he  said.  "  That 
was  when  I  was  in  the  fruit-carrying  trade  and  made 
a  voyage  to  Valenchy." 

'  Valencia,  pa,"  corrected  Annabel.  "  And  Val 
encia  is  in  Spain." 

"  I  know  it.  But  we  went  to  Leghorn  after 
wards.  I  sailed  to  Cronstadt  for  some  years  regular. 
Cronstadt  is  in  Rooshy,  Mr.  Ellery." 

''  Russia,  pa,"  snapped  his  daughter.  Then  she 
changed  the  subject  to  church  and  parish  affairs. 
They  spoke  of  the  sewing  circle  and  the  reading 
society  and  the  Friday-evening  meetings. 

'  The  Come-Outers  are  so  vexed  with  us,"  tit 
tered  Miss  Annabel,  "  that  they  won't  even  hold 
prayer  meeting  on  the  same  night  as  ours.  They 
have  theirs  on  Thursday  nights  and  it's  as  good  as 
a  play  to  hear  them  shout  and  sing  and  carry  on. 
You'll  enjoy  the  Come-Outers,  Mr.  Ellery.  They're 
a  perfect  delight." 

And  as  they  rose  to  go  Captain  Elkanah  asked: 

"  Is  there  anything  you'd  like  done  about  the  par 
sonage,  Mr.  Ellery?  If  so,  it  shall  be  done  imme- 
jitly.  How  are  you  satisfied  with  your  house 
keeper?  " 

67 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Very  well,  indeed,  Captain  Daniels,"  was  the 
prompt  reply. 

"  She's  a  character,  isn't  she?  "  giggled  Annabel. 
"  She  was  born  here  in  Trumet,  but  went  away  to 
New  Bedford  when  she  wras  young  and  grew  up  there. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Hall,  but  while  she  was  away 
she  married  a  man  named  Ansel  Coffin.  They 
didn't  live  together  very  long  and  weren't  happy,  I 
guess.  I  don't  know  whose  fault  it  was,  nobody 
knows  much  of  anything  about  it,  for  that's  the  one 
thing  she  won't  talk  about.  Anyhow,  the  Coffin  man 
was  lost  to  sea,  and  after  a  while  she  came  back  to 
keep  house  for  her  brother  Solomon.  She's  an  awful 
odd  stick,  but  she's  a  good  cook,  I  believe;  though 
I'm  afraid  you  won't  get  the  meals  people  such  as 
ourselves,  who've  been  so  much  in  the  city,  are  used 
to." 

Ellery  thought  of  the  meals  at  his  city  boarding 
house  and  shuddered.  He  was  an  orphan  and  had 
boarded  for  years.  Incidentally,  he  had  worked  his 
way  through  college.  Captain  Elkanah  cleared  his 
throat. 

"  Keziah,"  he  commanded.  "  Hum — ha  !  Ke- 
ziah,  come  in  here  a  minute." 

Keziah  came  in  response  to  the  call,  her  sewing  in 
her  hand.  The  renovation  of  the  parsonage  had  so 
far  progressed  that  she  could  now  find  time  for  a 
little  sewing,  after  the  dinner  dishes  were  done. 

"  Keziah,"  said  the  captain  pompously,  "  we 
expect  you  to  look  out  for  Mr.  Ellery  in  every  re 
spect.  The  parish  committee  expects  that — yes." 

"  I'll  try,"  said  Mrs.  Coffin  shortly. 

"  Yes.  Well,  that's  all.  You  can  go.  We  must 
be  going,  too,  Mr.  Ellery.  Please  consider  our 

68 


KEZIAH'S    PARSON    DECIDES 

house  at  your  disposal  any  time.  Be  neighborly — 
hum — ha  ! — be  neighborly." 

'  Yes,"  purred  Annabel.  "  Do  come  and  see  us 
often.  Congenial  society  is  very  scarce  in  Trumet, 
for  me  especially.  We  can  read  together.  Are  you 
fond  of  Moore,  Mr.  Ellery?  I  just  dote  on  him." 

The  last  "  hum — ha  "  was  partially  drowned  by 
the  click  of  the  gate.  Keziah  closed  the  dining-room 
door. 

"  Mrs.  Coffin,"  said  the  minister,  "  I  shan't 
trouble  the  parish  committee.  Be  sure  of  that.  I'm 
perfectly  satisfied." 

Keziah  sat  down  in  the  rocker  and  her  needle 
moved  very  briskly  for  a  moment.  Then  she  said, 
without  looking  up : 

"  That's  good.  I  own  up  I  like  to  hear  you 
say  it.  And  I  am  glad  there  are  some  things  I  do 
like  about  this  new  place  of  mine.  Because — well, 
because  there's  likely  to  be  others  that  I  shan't  like 
at  all." 

On  Friday  evening  the  minister  conducted  his 
first  prayer  meeting.  Before  it,  and  afterwards,  he 
heard  a  good  deal  concerning  the  Come-Outers.  He 
learned  that  Captain  Eben  Hammond  had  preached 
against  him  in  the  chapel  on  Sunday.  Most  of  his 
own  parishioners  seemed  to  think  it  a  good  joke. 

"  Stir  'em  up,  Mr.  Ellery,"  counseled  Lavinia 
Pepper.  "  Stir  'em  up!  Don't  be  afraid  to  answer 
'em  from  the  pulpit  and  set  'em  where  they  belong. 
Ignorant,  bigoted  things !  " 

Others  gave  similar  counsel.  The  result  was  that 
the  young  man  became  still  more  interested  in  these 
people  who  seemed  to  hate  him  and  all  he  stood  for 
so  profoundly.  He  wished  he  might  hear  their  side 

69 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

of  the  case  and  judge  it  for  himself.  It  may  as  well 
be  acknowledged  now  that  John  Ellery  had  a  habit 
of  wishing  to  judge  for  himself.  This  is  not  always 
a  politic  habit  in  a  country  minister. 

The  sun  of  the  following  Thursday  morning  rose 
behind  a  curtain  of  fog  as  dense  as  that  of  the  day 
upon  which  Ellery  arrived.  A  flat  calm  in  the  fore 
noon,  the  wind  changed  about  three  o'clock  and, 
beginning  with  a  sharp  and  sudden  squall  from  the 
northwest,  blew  hard  and  steady.  Yet  the  fog 
still  cloaked  everything  and  refused  to  be  blown 
away. 

"  There's  rain  astern,"  observed  Captain  Zeb, 
with  the  air  of  authority  which  belongs  to  seafaring 
men  when  speaking  of  the  weather.  "  We'll  get  a 
hard,  driving  rain  afore  mornin',  you  see.  Then,  if 
she  still  holds  from  the  northwest' ard,  it'll  fair  off 
fine." 

"  Coin'  out  in  this,  Mr.  Ellery !  "  exclaimed  Ke- 
ziah,  in  amazement,  as  the  minister  put  on  his  hat 
and  coat  about  seven  that  evening.  "  Sakes  alive! 
you  won't  be  able  to  see  the  way  to  the  gate.  It's 
as  dark  as  a  nigger's  pocket  and  thicker  than  young 
ones  in  a  poor  man's  family,  as  my  father  used  to 
say.  You'll  be  wet  through.  Where  in  the  world 
are  you  bound  for  this  night?  " 

The  minister  equivocated.  He  said  he  had  been 
in  the  house  all  day  and  felt  like  a  walk. 

"  Well,  take  an  umbrella,  then,"  was  the  house 
keeper's  advice.  "  You'll  need  it  before  you  get 
back,  I  cal'late." 

It  was  dark  enough  and  thick  enough,  in  all 
conscience.  The  main  road  was  a  black,  wet  void, 
through  which  gleams  from  lighted  windows  were 

70 


KEZIAH'S    PARSON    DECIDES 

but  vague,  yellow  blotches.  The  umbrella  was  use 
ful  in  the  same  way  that  a  blind  man's  cane  is  useful, 
in  feeling  the  way.  The  two  or  three  stragglers 
who  met  the  minister  carried  lanterns.  One  of  these 
stragglers  was  Mr.  Pepper.  Kyan  was  astonished. 

"  Well,  I  snum !  "  cried  Kyan,  raising  the  lantern. 
"If  'tain't  Mr.  Ellery.  Where  you  bound  this  kind 
of  night?" 

Before  the  minister  could  answer,  a  stately  figure 
appeared  and  joined  the  pair.  Lavinia,  of  course. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Ellery,"  she  said.  "  Ain't  you  lost, 
out  in  this  fog?  Anybody  sick?" 

No,  no  one  was  sick. 

'  That's  a  mercy.     Coin'  callin',  be  you?  " 

"No." 

"  Hum !  Queer  weather  for  a  walk,  I  call  it. 
Won't  be  many  out  to-night,  except  Come-Outers 
goin'  to  holler  their  lungs  loose  at  prayer  meetin'. 
He,  he !  You  ain't  turned  Come-Outer,  have  you, 
Mr.  Ellery?  You've  headed  right  for  the  chapel." 

Ellery's  reply  was  hurried  and  a  bit  confused. 
He  said  good  night  and  went  on. 

"  Laviny,"  whispered  the  shocked  Kyan,  "  do 
you  think  that  was  a — er — polite  thing  to  say  to  a 
parson?  That  about  his  turnin'  Come-Outer?  He 
didn't  make  much  answer,  seemed  to  me.  You  don't 
think  he  was  mad,  do  ye?  " 

"  I  don't  care  if  he  was,"  snorted  Miss  Pepper. 
"  He  could  tell  a  body  where  he  was  goin'  then. 
Nobody  can  snub  me,  minister  or  not.  /  think  he's 
kind  of  stuck-up,  if  you  want  to  know,  and  if  he  is, 
he'll  get  took  down  in  a  hurry.  Come  along,  don't 
stand  there  with  your  mouth  open  like  a  flytrap.  I'd 
like  to  know  what  he  was  up  to.  I've  a  precious 

71 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

good  mind  to  follow  him;  would  if  'twa'n't  so  much 
trouble." 

She  didn't.  Yet,  if  she  had,  she  would  have 
deemed  the  trouble  worth  while.  For  John  Ellery 
stumbled  on  through  the  mist  till  he  reached  the 
"  Corners "  where  the  store  was  located  and  the 
roads  forked.  There,  he  turned  to  the  right,  into 
the  way  called  locally  "  Hammond's  Turn-off."  A 
short  distance  down  the  "  Turn-off  "  stood  a  small, 
brown-shingled  building,  its  windows  alight.  Op 
posite  its  door,  on  the  other  side  of  the  road,  grew 
a  spreading  hornbeam  tree  surrounded  by  a  cluster 
of  swamp  blackberry  bushes.  In  the  black  shadow 
of  the  hornbeam  Mr.  Ellery  stood  still.  He  was 
debating  in  his  mind  a  question:  should  he  or  should 
he  not  enter  that  building? 

As  he  stood  there,  groups  of  people  emerged  from 
the  fog  and  darkness  and  passed  in  at  the  door. 
Some  of  them  he  had  seen  during  his  fortnight  in 
Trumet.  Others  were  strangers  to  him.  A  lantern 
danced  and  wabbled  up  the  "  Turn-off  "  from  the 
direction  of  the  bay  shore  and  the  packet  wharf. 
It  drew  near,  and  he  saw  that  it  was  carried  by  an 
old  man  with  long  white  hair  and  chin  beard,  who 
walked  with  a  slight  limp.  Beside  him  was  a  thin 
woman  wearing  a  black  poke  bonnet  and  a  shawl.  In 
the  rear  of  the  pair  came  another  woman,  a  young 
woman,  judging  by  the  way  she  was  dressed  and  her 
lithe,  vigorous  step.  The  trio  halted  on  the  platform 
of  the  building.  The  old  man  blew  out  the  lantern. 
Then  he  threw  the  door  open  and  a  stream  of  yellow 
light  poured  over  the  group. 

The  young  woman  was  Grace  Van  Home.  The 
minister  recognized  her  at  once.  Undoubtedly,  the 

72 


KEZIAH'S    PARSON    DECIDES 

old  man  with  the  limp  was  her  guardian,  Captain 
Eben  Hammond,  who,  by  common  report,  had 
spoken  of  him,  Ellery,  as  a  "  hired  priest." 

The  door  closed.  A  few  moments  thereafter  the 
sound  of  a  squeaky  melodeon  came  from  within  the 
building.  It  wailed  and  quavered  and  groaned. 
Then,  with  a  suddenness  that  was  startling,  came  the 
first  verse  of  a  hymn,  sung  with  tremendous  enthu 
siasm  : 

1 '  Oh,  who  shall  answer  when  the  Lord  shall  call 
His  ransomed  sinners  home  ?  " 

The  hallelujah  chorus  was  still  ringing  when  the 
watcher  across  the  street  stepped  out  from  the 
shadow  of  the  hornbeam.  Without  a  pause  he 
strode  over  to  the  platform.  Another  moment  and 
the  door  had  shut  behind  him. 

The  minister  of  the  Trumet  Regular  church  had 
entered  the  Come-Outer  chapel  to  attend  a  Come- 
Outer  prayer  meeting ! 


CHAPTER   V 

IN   WHICH    THE    PARSON    CRUISES    IN   STRANGE 
WATERS 

THE  Come-Outer  chapel  was  as  bare  inside, 
almost,  as  it  was  without.  Bare  wooden 
walls,  a  beamed  ceiling,  a  raised  platform 
at  one  end  with  a  table  and  chairs  and  the  melodeon 
upon  it,  rows  of  wooden  settees  for  the  congregation 
—that  was  all.  As  the  minister  entered,  the  wor 
shipers  were  standing  up  to  sing.  Three  or  four 
sputtering  oil  lamps  but  dimly  illumined  the  place 
and  made  recognition  uncertain. 

The  second  verse  of  the  hymn  was  just  beginning 
as  Ellery  came  in.  Most  of  the  forty  or  more  grown 
people  in  the  chapel  were  too  busy  wrestling  with 
the  tune  to  turn  and  look  at  him.  A  child  here  and 
there  in  the  back  row  twisted  a  curious  neck  but 
twisted  back  again  as  parental  fingers  tugged  at  its 
ear.  The  minister  tiptoed  to  a  dark  corner  and  took 
his  stand  in  front  of  a  vacant  settee. 

The  man  whom  Ellery  had  decided  must  be 
Captain  Eben  Hammond  was  standing  on  the  low 
platform  beside  the  table.  A  quaint  figure,  patri 
archal  with  its  flowing  white  hair  and  beard,  puri 
tanical  with  its  set,  smooth-shaven  lips  and  tufted 
brows.  Captain  Eben  held  an  open  hymn  book  back 
in  one  hand  and  beat  time  with  the  other.  He  wore 

74 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

brass-bowed  spectacles  well  down  toward  the  tip  of 
his  nose.  Swinging  a  heavy,  stubby  finger  and  sing 
ing  in  a  high,  quavering  voice  of  no  particular  regis 
ter,  he  led  off  the  third  verse : 

"  Oh,  who  shall  weep  when  the  roll  is  called 
And  who  shall  shout  for  joy  ? ' ' 

The  melodeon  and  the  hymn  book  were  in  accord 
as  to  the  tune,  but  Captain  Eben  and  the  various 
members  of  the  congregation  seemed  to  have  a  desire 
to  improvise.  They  sang  with  spirit,  however,  and 
the  rhythmic  pat  of  feet  grew  louder  and  louder. 
Here  and  there  men  and  women  were  swaying  and 
rocking  their  bodies  in  time  to  the  music.  The  chorus 
for  each  verse  was  louder  than  the  one  preceding  it. 

Another  hymn  was  given  out  and  sung.  And 
another  and  still  another.  The  windows  rattled 
The  patting  grew  to  a  steady  "thump!  thump!" 
Momentary  pauses  between  lines  were  punctuated  by 
hallelujahs  and  amens.  Standing  directly  in  front  of 
the  minister  was  a  six-foot,  raw-boned  individual 
whose  clothes  smelled  strongly  of  fish,  and  whose 
hands,  each  swung  at  the  end  of  an  exposed  five  inches 
of  hairy  red  wrist,  looked  like  flippers.  At  the  end 
of  the  third  hymn  this  personage  sprang  straight  up 
into  the  air,  cracked  the  heels  of  a  pair  of  red  cow 
hide  boots  together,  and  whooped:  "  Glory  be !  Send 
the  paower!  "  in  a  voice  like  the  screech  of  a  north 
east  gale.  Mr.  Ellery,  whom  this  gymnastic  feat 
had  taken  by  surprise,  jumped  in  sympathy,  although 
not  as  high. 

The  singing  over,  the  worshipers  sat  down. 
Captain  Eben  took  a  figured  handkerchief  from  his 

75 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

pocket  and  wiped  his  forehead.  The  thin,  near 
sighted  young  woman  who  had  been  humped  over 
the  keyboard  of  the  melodeon,  straightened  up.  The 
worshipers  relaxed  a  little  and  began  to  look  about. 

Then  the  captain  adjusted  his  spectacles  and 
opened  a  Bible,  which  he  took  from  the  table  beside 
him.  Clearing  his  throat,  he  announced  that  he 
would  read  from  the  Word,  tenth  chapter  of  Jere 
miah  : 

"  '  Thus  saith  the  Lord.  Learn  not  the  way  of 
the  heathen,  and  be  not  dismayed  at  the  signs  of 
heaven;  for  the  heathen  are  dismayed  at  them. 

'  For  the  customs  of  the  people  are  vain :  for 
one  cutteth  a  tree  out  of  the  forest,  the  work  of  the 
hands  of  the  workmen,  with  the  ax.'  ' 

He  read  in  a  measured  singsong,  stopping  occa 
sionally  to  hold  the  book  in  a  better  light  and  peering 
at  the  fine  print  through  his  spectacles.  And  as  he 
read,  there  was  a  sudden  rustle  on  one  of  the  back 
benches.  A  child  had  turned,  stared,  and  pulled  at 
its  mother's  sleeve.  The  rustle  grew  and  spread. 

Captain  Eben  drawled  on  to  the  twentieth  verse : 

'  My  tabernacle  is  spoiled  and  all  my  cords  are 

broken:  my  children  are  gone  forth  from  me,   and 

they  are  not:  there  is  none  to  stretch  forth  my  tent 

any  more,  and  to  set  up  my  curtains ! 

"  '  For  the  pastors  are  become  brutish  and  have 
not  sought  the  Lord :  therefore  they  shall  not  prosper, 
and '  " 

"A-men/" 

The  shout  came  from  the  second  bench  from  the 
front,  where  Ezekiel  Bassett,  clam  digger  and  fer 
vent  religionist,  was  always  to  be  found  on  meeting 
nights.  Ezekiel  was  the  father  of  Susannah  B.  Bas- 

76 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

sett,  "  Sukey  B."  for  short,  who  played  the  melodeon. 
He  had  been,  by  successive  seizures,  a  Seventh  Day 
Baptist,  a  Second  Adventist,  a  Millerite,  a  Regular, 
and  was  now  the  most  energetic  of  Come-Outers. 
Later  he  was  to  become  a  Spiritualist  and  preside  at 
table-tipping  seances. 

Ezekiel's  amen  was  so  sudden  and  emphatic  that 
it  startled  the  reader  into  looking  up.  Instead  of 
the  faces  of  his  congregation,  he  found  himself 
treated  to  a  view  of  their  back  hair.  Nearly  every 
head  was  turned  toward  the  rear  corner  of  the  room, 
there  was  a  buzz  of  whispering  and,  in  front,  many 
men  and  women  were  standing  up  to  look.  Captain 
Eben  was  scandalized. 

"Well!"  he  exclaimed.  "Is  this  a  prayer 
meetin'  or — or — what?  Brethren  and  sisters,  I  must 
say- 

Ezekiel  Bassett  stepped  forward  and  whispered 
in  his  ear.  The  captain's  expression  of  righteous 
indignation  changed  to  one  of  blank  astonishment. 
He,  too,  gazed  at  the  dark  corner.  Then  his  lips 
tightened  and  he  rapped  smartly  on  the  table. 

"  Brethren  and  sisters,"  he  thundered,  in  the 
voice  which,  of  old,  had  enforced  obedience  aboard 
his  coasting  schooner,  "  remember  this  is  the  house 
of  the  Lord.  Be  reverent !  " 

He  waited  until  every  eye  had  swung  about  to 
meet  his.  Then  he  regarded  his  abashed  but  ex 
cited  hearers  with  a  steady  and  prolonged  stare. 

"  My  friends,"  he  said,  "  let  us  bow  in  prayer." 

John  Ellery  could  have  repeated  that  prayer, 
almost  word  for  word,  years  after  that  night.  The 
captain  prayed  for  the  few  here  gathered  together: 
Let  them  be  steadfast.  Let  them  be  constant  in  the 

77 


KEZ1AH    COFFIN 

way.  The  path  they  were  treading  might  be  narrow 
and  beset  with  thorns,  but  it  was  the  path  leading  to 
glory. 

"  Scoffers  may  sneer,"  he  declared,  his  voice 
rising;  "they  may  make  a  mock  of  us,  they  may 
even  come  into  Thy  presence  to  laugh  at  us,  but 
theirs  is  the  laugh  that  turns  to  groanin'.  O  Lord, 
strengthen  us  to-night  to  speak  what's  in  our  hearts, 
without  fear."  ("  A-men  !  ")  "  To  prophesy  in  Thy 
name  !  To  bid  the  mockers  and  them  that  dare — dare 
to  profane  this  sanctuary  be  careful.  Hired  singers 
and  trumpets  and  vain  shows  we  have  not  "  ("  Thank 
the  Lord  !  Amen  !  ") ,  "  but  the  true  faith  and  the  joy 
of  it  we  do  have."  ("Hallelujah!  Hallelujah! 
Glory!") 

And  so  on,  his  remarks  becoming  more  personal 
and  ever  pointing  like  a  compass  needle  to  the  occu 
pant  of  that  seat  in  the  corner.  The  minister's  de 
termination  to  attend  a  Come-Outer  meeting,  though 
it  had  reached  the  sticking  point  only  a  half  hour 
before,  was  the  result  of  considerable  deliberation. 
He  had  argued  with  himself  and  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  find  out  for  himself  just  what  these  people 
did.  He  was  finding  out,  certainly.  His  motives 
were  good  and  he  had  come  with  no  desire  to  scoff, 
but,  for  the  life  of  him,  he  could  not  help  feeling  like 
a  criminal.  Incidentally,  it  provoked  him  to  feel 
that  way. 

"  O  Lord,"  prayed  Captain  Hammond,  the  per 
spiration  in  beads  on  his  forehead,  "  Thou  hast  said 
that  the  pastors  become  brutish  and  have  not  sought 
Thee  and  that  they  shan't  prosper.  Help  us  to 
night  to  labor  with  this  one  that  he  may  see  his 
error  and  repent  in  sackcloth  and  ashes." 

78 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

They  sang  once  more,  a  hymn  that  prophesied 
woe  to  the  unbeliever.  Then  Ezekiel  Bassett  rose 
to  "  testify."  The  testimony  was  mainly  to  the  effect 
that  he  was  happy  because  he  had  fled  to  the  ark  of 
safety  while  there  was  yet  time. 

"  I  found  out,"  he  shouted,  "  that  fancy  music 
and — ah — and — ah — sot  sermons  and  fine  duds  and 
suchlike  wa'n't  goin'  to  do  me  no  good.  I  needed 
somethin'  else.  I  needed  good  times  in  my  religion  " 
("Hallelujah!")  "and  I've  found  'em  right  here. 
Yes,  sir!  right  here.  And  I  say  this  out  loud,"  turn 
ing  to  glare  at  the  intruder,  "  and  I  don't  care  who 
comes  to  poke  fun  at  me  for  sayin'  it."  ( "  Amen !  " ) 

A  sharp-nosed  female  followed  Mr.  Bassett. 
She  spoke  with  evident  feeling  and  in  a  voice  that 
trembled  and  shook  when  her  emotion  carried  it 
aloft.  She'd  had  enough  of  high-toned  religion. 
Yes,  and  of  them  that  upheld  it.  When  her  brother 
Simeon  was  took  bad  with  phthisic,  "  wheezin'  like 
a  busted  bellerses  "  and  'twas  "  up  and  down,  trot, 
trot,  trot,"  to  fetch  and  carry  for  him  day  in  and 
night  out,  did  the  folks  from  the  Reg'lar  church 
help  her?  She  guessed  not.  The  only  one  that  came 
nigh  her  was  Laviny  Pepper,  and  she  came  only  to 
gas  and  gabble  and  find  out  things  that  wa'n't  none 
of  her  business.  What  help  she  got  was  from  a 
Come-Outer,  from  Eben  Hammond,  bless  his  good 
soul!  ("Amen!")  That  phthisic  settled  her  for 
Reg'larism.  Yes,  and  for  them  that  preached  it, 
too.  So  there ! 

Captain  Eben  called  for  more  testimony.  But 
the  testifiers  were,  to  use  the  old  minstrel  joke,  back 
ward  in  coming  forward  that  evening.  At  an  ordi 
nary  meeting,  by  this  time,  the  shouts  and  enthusiasm 

79 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

would  have  been  at  their  height  and  half  a  dozen 
Come-Outers  on  their  feet  at  once,  relating  their  ex 
periences  and  proclaiming  their  happiness.  But  to 
night  there  was  a  damper;  the  presence  of  the  leader 
of  the  opposition  cast  a  shadow  over  the  gathering. 
Only  the  bravest  attempted  speech.  The  others  sat 
silent,  showing  their  resentment  and  contempt  by 
frowning  glances  over  their  shoulders  and  porten 
tous  nods  one  to  the  other. 

"  Come,  brethren,"  commanded  the  captain 
sharply;  "we  are  waitin'  to  hear  you.  Are  you 
afraid?  If  your  faith  is  real,  nothin'  nor  nobody 
should  keep  you  from  cry  in'  it  out  loud.  Now,  if 
ever,  is  the  accepted  time.  Speak  up  for  the  spirit 
that's  in  you." 

An  elderly  man,  grave  and  quiet,  arose  and  said 
a  few  words,  dignified  and  solemn  words  of  prayer 
and  thankfulness  for  the  comfort  this  little  society 
of  true  believers  had  been  to  him.  Ellery  realized 
that  here  was  another  sort  of  Come-Outer,  one  of 
the  Hammond  type.  Evidently,  they  were  not  all 
like  Ezekiel  and  the  shrill-voiced  woman. 

Then,  from  the  settee  in  front  of  him,  rose  the 
lengthy  and  fishy  person  with  the  cowhide  boots  and 
enormous  hands.  His  name  was  Josiah  Badger  and 
he  was,  according  to  Trumet's  estimate,  "  a  little 
mite  lackin'  in  his  top  riggin'."  He  stuttered,  and 
this  infirmity  became  more  and  more  apparent  as  he 
grew  eloquent. 

"  I — I  ain't  afraid,"  he  proclaimed.  "  They  can 
call  me  a  C-C-Come-Outer  all  they  want  to.  I — I 
don't  care  if  they  do.  Let  'em,  I  say;  1-let  'em! 
They  can  p-p-poke  their  fun  and  p-p-p-pup-pup-poke 
it,  but  I  tell  'em  to  h-heave  ahead  and  p-pup-pup- 

80 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

poke.  When  I  used  to  g-go  to  their  old  Reg'lar 
meetin'  house,  all  I  done  was  to  go  to  sleep.  But  I 
don't  go  to  sleep  here,  glory  hallelujah!  No,  sir! 
There's  too  much  b-b-blessed  noise  and  we  have  too 
g-good  times  to  g-go  to  sleep  here.  That  old  K-Kyan 
Pepper  called  me  t-town  f-fool  t'other  day.  T-tut- 
town  fool's  what  he  called  me.  Says  I  to  him,  says  I : 
'  You-you-y-you  ain't  got  spunk  enough  to  be  a  fool,' 
I  says,  '  unless  Laviny  says  you  c-can  be.  You  old 
Reg'lar  p-p-pepper  shaker,  you !  " 

By  this  time  tee-hees  from  the  children  and 
chuckles  from  some  of  the  older  members  interfered 
with  Mr.  Badger's  fervent  but  jerky  discourse.  Cap 
tain  Eben  struck  the  table  smartly. 

"  Silence  !  "  he  thundered.  "  Silence  !  Brother 
Badger,  I  beg  your  pardon  for  'em.  Go  on !  " 

But  Josiah's  train  of  thought  had  evidently  been 
derailed  by  the  interruption. 

"  I — I — I  cal'late  that's  about  all,"  he  stam 
mered  and  sat  down. 

The  captain  looked  over  the  meeting. 

"  I'm  ashamed,"  he  said,  "  ashamed  of  the  be 
havior  of  some  of  us  in  the  Lord's  house.  This  has 
been  a  failure,  this  service  of  ours.  We  have  kept 
still  when  we  should  have  justified  our  faith,  and 
allowed  the  presence  of  a  stranger  to  interfere  with 
our  duty  to  the  Almighty.  And  I  will  say,"  he 
added,  his  voice  rising  and  trembling  with  indigna 
tion,  "  to  him  who  came  here  uninvited  and  broke 
up  this  meetin',  that  it  would  be  well  for  him  to 
remember  the  words  of  Scriptur',  '  Woe  unto  ye, 
false  prophets  and  workers  of  iniquity.'  Let  him 
remember  what  the  Divine  wisdom  put  into  my  head 
to  read  to-night :  '  The  pastors  have  become  brutish 
7  81 


and  have  not  sought  the  Lord;  therefore  they  shall 
not  prosper.'  ' 

"  Amen  !  "  "  Amen  !  "  "  Amen  !  "  "  So  be  it !  " 
The  cries  came  from  all  parts  of  the  little  room. 
They  ceased  abruptly,  for  John  Ellery  was  on  his 
feet. 

"  Captain  Hammond,"  he  said,  "  I  realize  that  I 
have  no  right  to  speak  in  this  building,  but  I  must 
say  one  word.  My  coming  here  to-night  may  have 
been  a  mistake;  I'm  inclined  to  think  it  was.  But  I 
came  not,  as  you  seem  to  infer,  to  sneer  or  to  scoff; 
certainly  I  had  no  wish  to  disturb  your  service.  I 
came  because  I  had  heard  repeatedly,  since  my  ar 
rival  in  this  town,  of  this  society  and  its  meetings. 
I  had  heard,  too,  that  there  seemed  to  be  a  feeling 
of  antagonism,  almost  hatred,  against  me  among 
you  here.  I  couldn't  see  why.  Most  of  you  have, 
I  believe,  been  at  one  time  members  of  the  church 
where  I  preach.  I  wished  to  find  out  for  myself 
how  much  of  truth  there  was  in  the  stories  I  had 
heard  and  to  see  if  a  better  feeling  between  the  two 
societies  might  not  be  brought  about.  Those  were 
my  reasons  for  coming  here  to-night.  As  for  my 
being  a  false  prophet  and  a  worker  of  iniquity  " 
he  smiled — "  well,  there  is  another  verse  of  Scripture 
I  would  call  to  your  attention :  '  Judge  not,  that  ye 
be  not  judged.' ' 

He  sat  down.  There  was  silence  for  a  moment 
and  then  a  buzz  of  whispering.  Captain  Eben,  who 
had  heard  him  with  a  face  of  iron  hardness,  rapped 
the  table. 

"  We  will  sing  in  closin',"  he  said,  "  the  forty- 
second  hymn.  After  which  the  benediction  will  be 
pronounced." 

82 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

The  Regular  minister  left  the  Gome-Outers' 
meeting  with  the  unpleasant  conviction  that  he  had 
blundered  badly.  His  visit,  instead  of  tending  to 
ward  better  understanding  and  more  cordial  relation 
ship,  had  been  regarded  as  an  intrusion.  He  had 
been  provoked  into  a  public  justification,  and  now 
he  was  quite  sure  that  he  would  have  been  more 
politic  to  remain  silent.  He  realized  that  the  even 
ing's  performance  would  cause  a  sensation  and  be 
talked  about  all  over  town.  The  Come-Outers  would 
glory  in  their  leader's  denunciation  of  him,  and  his 
own  people  would  perhaps  feel  that  it  served  him 
right.  If  he  had  only  told  Mrs.  Coffin  of  what  he 
intended  to  do.  Yet  he  had  not  told  her  because 
he  meant  to  do  it  anyhow.  Altogether  it  was  a 
rather  humiliating  business. 

So  that  old  bigot  was  the  Van  Home  girl's 
"  uncle."  It  hardly  seemed  possible  that  she,  who 
appeared  so  refined  and  ladylike  when  he  met  her 
at  the  parsonage,  should  be  a  member  of  that  curious 
company.  When  he  rose  to  speak  he  had  seen  her 
in  the  front  row,  beside  the  thin,  middle-aged  female 
who  had  entered  the  chapel  with  Captain  Hammond 
and  with  her.  She  was  looking  at  him  intently. 
The  lamp  over  the  speaker's  table  had  shone  full 
on  her  face  and  the  picture  remained  in  his  memory. 
He  saw  her  eyes  and  the  wavy  shadows  of  her  hair 
on  her  forehead. 

He  stepped  off  the  platform,  across  the  road,  out 
of  the  way  of  homeward-bound  Come-Outers,  and 
stood  there,  thinking.  The  fog  was  as  heavy  and 
wet  as  ever;  in  fact,  it  was  almost  a  rain.  The  wind 
was  blowing  hard  from  the  northwest.  The  con 
gregation  dispersed  in  chattering  groups,  their  Ian- 

83 


KEZ1AH    COFFIN 

terns  dipping  and  swinging  like  fireflies.  The  chat 
ter  dealt  entirely  with  one  subject — himself.  He 
heard  his  name  mentioned  at  least  twenty  times. 
Out  of  the  gusty,  dripping  blackness  came  Mr. 
Badger's  voice. 

"  By  time!  "  crowed  Josiah,  "  he  was  took  down 
a  few  p-p-pup-pegs,  wa'n't  he !  My !  how  Eben  did 
g-gi-gi-give  it  to  him.  He  looked  toler'ble  white 
under  the  gills  when  he  riz  up  to  heave  out  his  s-s-sus- 
sassy  talk.  And  foolish,  too.  I  cal'late  I  won't  be 
the  only  town  fuf-fuf-fool  from  now  on.  He!  he!  " 

The  noises  died  away  in  the  distance.  Within 
the  chapel  the  tramp  of  heavy  boots  sounded  as  the 
lights  were  blo\vn  out,  one  by  one.  The  minister 
frowned,  sighed,  and  turned  homeward.  It  is  not 
pleasant  to  be  called  "a  fool,  even  by  a  recognized 
member  of  the  fraternity. 

He  had  taken  but  a  few  steps  when  there  was  a 
rustle  in  the  wet  grass  behind  him. 

"  Mr.  Ellery,"  whispered  a  voice,  "  Mr.  Ellery, 
may  I  speak  to  you  just  a  moment?  " 

He  wheeled  in  surprise. 

"  Why !  why,  Miss  Van  Home !  "  he  exclaimed. 
"Is  it  you?" 

"  Mr.  Ellery,"  she  began,  speaking  hurriedly 
and  in  a  low  voice,  "  I — I  felt  that  I  must  say  a  word 
to  you  before " 

She  paused  and  glanced  back  at  the  chapel.  Eze- 
kiel  Bassett,  the  janitor,  having  extinguished  the 
last  lamp,  had  emerged  from  the  door  and  was 
locking  up.  In  another  moment  he  clumped  past 
them  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  the  circle  of  light 
from  his  lantern  just  missing  them  as  they  stood  in 
the  grass  at  the  side  under  the  hornbeam  and  black- 

84 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

berry  bushes.  He  was  alone;  Sukey  B.  had  gone  on 
before,  other  and  younger  masculine  escort  having 
been  providentially  provided. 

Mr.  Bassett  was  out  of  hearing  before  Grace 
finished  her  sentence.  The  minister  was  silent,  wait 
ing  and  wondering. 

"  I  felt,"  she  said,  "  that  I  must  see  you  and— 
explain.  I  am  so  sorry  you  came  here  to-night.  Oh, 
I  wish  you  hadn't.  What  made  you  do  it?  " 

"  I  came,"  began  Ellery,  somewhat  stiffly,  "  be 
cause  I — well,  because  I  thought  it  might  be  a  good 
thing  to  do.  As  I  said— 

"  Yes,  I  know.  But  it  wasn't.  It  was  so — 
so " 

"  So  foolish.  Thank  you,  I'm  aware  of  it.  I've 
heard  myself  called  a  fool  already  since  I  left  your 
church.  Not  that  I  needed  to  hear  it.  I  realize  the 
fact." 

There  was  a  bitterness  in  his  tone,  unmistakable. 
And  a  little  laugh  from  his  companion  did  not  tend 
to  soothe  his  feelings. 

'  Thank  you,"  he  said.  "  Perhaps  it  is  funny. 
I  did  not  find  it  so.  Good  evening." 

This  was  priggish,  but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  John  Ellery  was  very,  very  fresh  from  the  theo 
logical  school,  where  young  divines  are  taught  to 
take  themselves  seriously.  He  was  ashamed  of  him 
self  as  soon  as  he  said  it,  which  proved  that  his  case 
was  not  beyond  hope. 

The  girl  detained  him  as  he  was  turning  away. 

"  I  wasn't  laughing  at  that,"  she  said.  "  I  know 
who  called  you  that — that  name.  It  was  Josiah 
Badger,  and  he  really  is  one,  you  know.  I  was  think 
ing  of  his  testimony  in  meeting  and  how  he  called 

85 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Ky — Abishai — a  pepper  shaker.  That  was  ridicu 
lous  enough,  but  it  reminded  me  of  something  else 
about  Mr.  Pepper,  and  I  had  to  laugh.  It  wasn't  at 
you,  truly." 

So  the  minister  begged  her  pardon;  also  he  re 
mained  where  he  was,  and  heard  the  drops  from  the 
tree  patter  hollow  on  his  hat. 

"  I  came  after  you,"  went  on  Grace  rapidly  and 
with  nervous  haste,  "  because  I  felt  that  you  ought 
not  to  misjudge  my  uncle  for  what  he  said  to-night. 
He  wouldn't  have  hurt  your  feelings  for  the  world. 
He  is  a  good  man  and  does  good  to  everybody.  If 
you  only  knew  the  good  he  does  do,  you  wouldn't — 
you  wouldn't  dare  think  hardly  of  him." 

She  stamped  her  foot  in  the  wet  grass  as  she  said 
it.  She  was  evidently  in  earnest.  But  Ellery  was 
not  in  the  mood  to  be  greatly  impressed  by  Eben 
Hammond's  charity  or  innate  goodness.  The  old 
tavern  keeper's  references  to  himself  were  too  fresh 
in  his  mind.  "  False  prophet  "  and  "  worker  of 
iniquity!  " 

"  I'm  not  judging  your  uncle,"  he  declared.  "  It 
seemed  to  me  that  the  boot  was  on  the  other  leg." 

"  I  know,  but  you  do  judge  him,  and  you  mustn't. 
You  see,  he  thought  you  had  come  to  make  fun  of 
him — and  us.  Some  of  the  Regular  people  do, 
people  who  aren't,  fit  to  tie  his  shoes.  And  so  he 
spoke  against  you.  He'll  be  sorry  when  he  thinks  it 
over.  That's  what  I  came  to  tell  you.  I  ask  your 
pardon  for — for  him." 

"  Why — why,  that's  all  right.  I  think  I  under 
stood " 

"  I'm  not  asking  it  because  he's  a  Come-Outer 
and  you're  a  Regular  minister.  He  isn't  ashamed 

86 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

of  his  religion.  Neither  am  I.  I'm  a  Come-Outer, 
too." 

'  Yes.     I — I  supposed  you  were." 

"  Yes,  I  am.  There,  good  night,  Mr.  Ellery. 
All  I  ask  is  that  you  don't  think  too  hardly  of  uncle. 
He  didn't  mean  it." 

She  turned  away  now,  and  it  was  the  minister 
who  detained  her. 

"  I've  been  thinking,"  he  said  slowly,  for  in  his 
present  state  of  mind  it  was  a  hard  thing  to  say, 
"  that  perhaps  I  ought  to  apologize,  too.  I'm  afraid 
I  did  disturb  your  service  and  I'm  sorry.  I  meant 
well,  but-  What's  that  ?  Rain  ?  " 

There  was  no  doubt  about  it;  it  was  rain  and 
plenty  of  it.  It  came  in  a  swooping  downpour  that 
beat  upon  the  trees  and  bushes  and  roared  upon  the 
roof  of  the  chapel.  The  minister  hurriedly  raised 
his  umbrella. 

"  Here!  "  he  cried,  "  let  me — Miss  Van  Home! 
Where  are  you?  " 

The  answer  came  from  a  short  distance  down 
the  "  Turn-off." 

"  Good  night,"  called  the  girl.     "  I  must  run." 

Evidently,  she  inas  running.  Therefore  the 
young  man  ran  after  her.  He  caught  up  with  her 
in  a  moment,  in  spite  of  some  stumbles  over  the 
rough  road. 

"  Here !  "  he  commanded,  "  you  must  take  the 
umbrella.  Really,  you  must.  You  haven't  one  and 
you'll  be  wet  through." 

She  pushed  the  umbrella  aside. 

"  No,  no,"  she  answered.  "  I  don't  need  it;  I'm 
used  to  wet  weather;  truly  I  am.  And  I  don't  care 
for  this  hat;  it's  an  old  one.  You  have  a  long  way 

87 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

to  go  and  I  haven't.     Please,  Mr.   Ellery,   I  can't 
take  it." 

'  Very  well,"  was  the  sternly  self-sacrificing 
reply,  "  then  I  shall  certainly  go  with  you." 

"  But  I  don't  wish  you  to." 

"  I  can't  help  that.  I'm  not  going  to  let  you 
go  unprotected  through  this  flood.  Especially  as 
you  might  have  been  at  home  before  this  if  you 
hadn't  stopped  to  speak  with  me." 

"  But  you  mustn't." 

"  I  shall." 

Here  was  the  irresistible  force  and  the  immov 
able  object.  They  stood  stock  still  in  the  middle  of 
the  road,  while  the  rain  drops  jumped  as  they  struck 
the  umbrella  top.  The  immovable  object,  being 
feminine,  voiced  the  unexpected. 

"All  right,"  she  said;  "then  I  suppose  I  shall 
have  to  take  it." 

"What?" 

'  The  umbrella.  I'm  sorry,  and  you'll  get  dread 
fully  wet,  but  it's  your  own  fault." 

He  could  feel  her  hand  near  his  own  on  the 
handle.  He  did  not  relinquish  his  grasp. 

"  No,"  he  said.  "  I  think,  on  the  whole,  that 
that  is  unreasonable.  I  should  get  wet  and,  though  I 
don't  mind  it  when  it  is  necessary,  I " 

"Well?"  rather  sharply,  "what  are  you  going 
to  do?" 

"  Go  with  you  as  far  as  your  gate.  I'm  sorry,  if 
my  company  is  distasteful,  but— 

He  did  not  finish  the  sentence,  thinking,  it  may 
be,  that  she  might  finish  it  for  him.  But  she  was 
silent,  merely  removing  her  hand  from  the  handle. 
She  took  a  step  forward;  he  followed,  holding  the 

88 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

umbrella  above  her  head.    They  plashed  on,  without 
speaking,  through  the  rapidly  forming  puddles. 

Presently  she  stumbled  and  he  caught  her  arm  to 
prevent  her  falling.  To  his  surprise  he  felt  that  arm 
shake  in  his  grasp. 

''  Why,    Miss    Van    Home !  "    he    exclaimed    in 
great  concern,  "  are  you  crying?    I  beg  your  pardon. 
Of  course  I  wouldn't  think  of  going  another  step 
with  you.     I  didn't  mean  to  trouble  you.     I  only— 
If  you  will  please  take  this  umbrella — 

Again  he  tried  to  transfer  the  umbrella  and  again 
she  pushed  it  away. 

"I — I'm  not  crying,"  she  gasped;  "but — oh, 
dear!  this  is  so  funny!  " 

Mr.  Ellery  gazed  blankly  at  her  through  the  rain- 
streaked  dark.  This  was  the  most  astonishing  young 
person  he  had  met  in  his  twenty-three  years  of 
worldly  experience. 

"  Funny !  "  he  repeated.  "  Well,  perhaps  it  is. 
Our  ideas  of  fun  seem  to  differ.  I— 

"  Oh,  but  it  is  so  funny.  You  don't  understand. 
What  do  you  think  your  congregation  would  say  if 
they  knew  you  had  been  to  a  Gome-Outers'  meeting 
and  then  insisted  on  seeing  a  Come-Outer  girl 
home?" 

John  Ellery  swallowed  hard.  A  vision  of  Cap 
tain  Elkanah  Daniels  and  the  stately  Miss  Annabel 
rose  before  his  mind's  eye.  He  hadn't  thought  of  his 
congregation  in  connection  with  this  impromptu  res 
cue  of  a  damsel  in  distress. 

"  Ha,  ha !  "  he  laughed  mournfully.  "  I  guess  it 
is  rather  funny,  after  all." 

"  It  certainly  is.  Now  will  you  leave  me  and  go 
back  to  your  parsonage?  " 

89 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Not  unless  you  take  the  umbrella." 

"  Very  well.  It  is  a  beautiful  evening  for  a  walk, 
don't  you  think  so?  Mr.  Ellery,  I'm  afraid  we 
shan't  have  you  with  us  in  Trumet  very  long." 

"Why  not?" 

"  Oh,  because  you're  so  very,  very  original.  Are 
your  sermons  that  way,  too?  Captain  Elkanah 
doesn't  like  his  ministers  to  be  too  original." 

The  minister  set  his  teeth.  At  that  moment  he 
felt  an  intense  desire  to  bid  the  Daniels  family  mind 
their  own  business.  Then  another  thought  struck 
him. 

"  Possibly  your  Uncle  Eben  might  be  somewhat 
— er — surprised  if  he  knew  you  were  with  me.  Per 
haps  he  might  have  something  to  say  on  the  subject." 

"  I  guess  he  would.  We  shall  know  very  soon. 
I  ran  away  and  left  him  with  Mrs.  Poundberry,  our 
housekeeper.  He  doesn't  know  where  I  am.  I  won 
der  he  hasn't  turned  back  to  look  for  me  before  this. 
We  shall  probably  meet  him  at  any  moment." 

She  seemed  to  enjoy  the  prospect  of  the  meeting. 
Ellery  wondered  what  on  earth  he  should  say  to  Cap 
tain  Hammond — that  is,  provided  he  was  allowed  to 
say  anything. 

Suddenly  a  heavier  gust  of  rain  and  wind  beat 
upon  them.  The  minister  struggled  with  the  um 
brella.  The  gust  passed  and  with  it  the  fog.  An 
instant  before  it  had  been  all  about  them,  shutting 
them  within  inky  walls.  Now  it  was  not.  Through 
the  rain  he  could  see  the  shadowy  silhouettes  of 
bushes  at  the  road  side.  Fifty  yards  away  the 
lighted  windows  of  the  Hammond  tavern  gleamed 
yellow.  Farther  on,  over  a  ragged,  moving  fringe 
of  grass  and  weeds,  was  a  black  flat  expanse  — 

9° 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

the  bay.  And  a  little  way  out  upon  that  ex 
panse  twinkled  the  lights  of  a  vessel.  A  chain 
rattled.  Voices  shouting  exultingly  came  to  their 
ears. 

"  Why !  "  exclaimed  Grace  in  excited  wonder, 
"  it's  the  packet!  She  was  due  this  morning,  but  we 
didn't  expect  her  in  till  to-morrow.  How  did  she 
find  her  way  in  the  fog?  I  must  tell  uncle." 

She  started  to  run  toward  the  house.  The  min 
ister  would  have  followed  with  the  umbrella,  but  she 
stopped  him. 

"  No,  Mr.  Ellery,"  she  urged  earnestly.  "  No, 
please  don't.  I'm  all  right  now.  Thank  you.  Good 
night." 

A  few  steps  farther  on  she  turned. 

"  I  hope  Cap'n  Elkanah  won't  know,"  she  whis 
pered,  the  laugh  returning  to  her  voice.  "  Good 
night." 

Ellery  stood  still  in  the  rain  and  watched  her. 
He  saw  her  pass  the  lighted  windows  and  open  a 
door.  Into  the  yellow  radiance  she  flashed  and  dis 
appeared.  A  minute  more  and  the  bulky  form  of 
Eben  Hammond,  lantern  in  hand,  a  sou'wester  on 
his  head  and  his  shoulders  working  themselves  into 
an  oilskin  coat,  burst  out  of  the  door  and  hurriedly 
limped  down  toward  the  shore.  On  the  threshold, 
framed  in  light,  stood  his  ward,  gazing  after  him. 
And  the  minister  gazed  at  her. 

From  the  bay  came  the  sound  of  oars  in  row 
locks.  A  boat  was  approaching  the  wharf.  And 
suddenly  from  the  boat  came  a  hail. 

"Halloo!     Ahoy,  dad!     Is  that  you?" 

There  was  an  answering  shout  from  the  wharf; 
a  shout  of  joy.  Then  a  rattle  of  oars  and  a  clamor 

91 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

of  talk.  And  Grace  still  stood  in  the  doorway,  wait 
ing. 

The  lantern  bobbed  up  the  slope.  As  it  reached 
the  tavern  gateway,  the  minister  saw  that  it  was  now 
carried  by  a  tall,  active  man,  who  walked  with  a  sea 
man's  stride  and  roll.  Captain  Eben  was  close  beside 
him,  talking  excitedly. 

They  entered  the  yard. 

"Grace!  Grace!"  screamed  Captain  Eben. 
"  Gracie,  girl,  look  who's  come!  Look!  " 

The  tall  man  ran  forward. 

"  Hi,  Grace !  "  he  cried  in  a  deep,  hearty  voice. 
"  Is  that  you?  Ain't  you  got  a  word  for  your  old 
messmate?  " 

The  girl  stepped  out  into  the  rain. 

"  Why !  why,  Nat!  "  she  cried. 

The  big  man  picked  her  up  bodily  in  his  arms 
and  carried  her  into  the  house.  Captain  Eben  fol 
lowed  and  the  door  closed. 

John  Ellery  picked  his  way  homeward  through 
the  puddles  and  the  pouring  rain. 

He  found  Keziah  in  the  sitting  room,  seated  by 
the  table,  evidently  writing  a  letter.  She  looked  tired 
and  grave — for  her. 

"  Well!  "  she  exclaimed  as  he  entered.  "  I  guess 
you're  soppin'  now,  sartin  sure.  There's  a  light  in 
your  room.  Take  off  your  wet  things  and  throw  'em 
down  to  me,  and  I'll  dry  'em  in  the  kitchen.  Better 
leave  your  boots  here  now  and  stand  that  umbrella 
in  the  sink.  The  kettle's  on  the  stove;  you'd  better 
have  somethin'  hot — ginger  tea  or  somethin'.  I  told 
you  not  to  go  out  such  a  night  as  this.  Where  in  the 
world  have  you  been?" 

The  minister  said  he  would  tell  her  all  about  it 
92 


IN    STRANGE    WATERS 

in  the  morning.  Just  now  he  thought  he  had  better 
go  up  and  take  off  his  wet  clothes.  He  declined  the 
ginger  tea,  and,  after  removing  his  boots,  went  up 
stairs  to  his  room. 

Keziah  dipped  her  pen  in  the  ink  and  went  on 
with  her  letter. 

"  I  inclose  ten  dollars,"  she  wrote.  "  It  is  all  I 
can  send  you  now.  More  than  I  ought  to  afford. 
Goodness  knows  why  I  send  anything.  You  don't 
deserve  it.  But  while  I  live  and  you  do  I  can't — 

The  minister  called   from  the  landing. 

"  Here  is  my  coat,"  he  said.  "  The  cuffs  and 
lower  part  of  the  sleeves  are  pretty  wet.  By  the  way, 
the  packet  came  in  to-night.  They  didn't  expect  her 
so  soon  on  account  of  the  fog.  There  was  a  pas 
senger  aboard  whom  I  think  must  be  that  Nathaniel 
Hammond  you  told  me  of." 

Keziah's  pen  stopped.  The  wet  coat  struck  the 
hall  floor  with  a  soft  thump.  The  tick  of  the  clock 
sounded  loud  in  the  room.  A  sheet  of  wind-driven 
rain  lashed  the  windows. 

"  Did  you  hear?"  called  the  minister.  "  I  said 
that  Nathaniel  Hammond,  Captain  Eben's  son,  came 
on  the  packet.  I  didn't  meet  him,  but  I'm  sure  it 
was  he.  Er — Mrs.  Coffin,  are  you  there?  Do  you 
hear  me?  " 

The  housekeeper  laid  the  pen  down  beside  the 
unfinished  letter. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  I  hear  you.     Good  night." 

For  minutes  she  sat  there,  leaning  back  in  her 
chair  and  staring  at  the  wall.  Then  she  rose,  went 
into  the  hall,  picked  up  the  coat,  and  took  it  out  into 
the  kitchen,  where  she  hung  it  on  the  clotheshorse  by 
the  cook  stove.  After  a  while  she  returned  to  the 

93 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

table  and  took  up  the  pen.     Her  face  in  the  lamp 
light  looked  more  tired  and  grave  than  ever. 

It  was  a  long  time  before  John  Ellery  fell  asleep. 
He  had  much  to  think  of — of  the  morrow,  of  the 
talk  his  rash  visit  to  the  chapel  would  cause,  of  the 
explanation  he  must  make  to  Captain  Elkanah  and 
the  rest.  But  the  picture  that  was  before  his  closed 
eyes  as  he  lay  there  was  neither  of  Captain  Elkanah 
nor  the  parish  committee;  it  was  that  of  a  girl,  with 
dark  hair  and  a  slim,  graceful  figure,  standing  in  a 
lighted  doorway  and  peering  out  into  the  rain. 


CHAPTER    VI 

IN    WHICH    OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

WHEN  Ellery  came  down  to  breakfast  the 
rain  was  over,  the  wind  had  gone  down, 
and  the  morning  sunshine  was  pouring  in 
at  the  dining-room  windows.  Outside  the  lilacs  were 
in  bud,  the  bluebirds  were  singing,  and  there  was  a 
sniff  of  real  spring  in  the  air.  The  storm  was  at  an 
end  and  yet  the  young  minister  was  conscious  of  a 
troublesome  feeling  that,  for  him,  it  was  just  begin 
ning. 

However,  he  had  determined  while  dressing  to 
make  a  clean  breast  of  it  to  his  housekeeper — a  nomi 
nally  clean  breast,  that  is.  There  were  some  things 
he  would  not  tell  her,  some  that  he  would  not  speak 
of  to  anyone,  the  picture  in  the  doorway  for  instance. 
True,  it  was  only  a  picture  and  of  no  moment,  but 
it  was  pleasant  to  remember.  One  of  the  very  few 
pleasant  things  connected  with  the  previous  eve 
ning. 

So,  as  they  sat  opposite  each  other  at  the  table, 
he  began  his  confession.  The  muffins  scorched  in 
the  oven  and  the  coffeepot  boiled  over  as  he  told  his 
story,  for  Keziah  was  too  much  interested  to  think 
of  trifles.  Interested  and  astounded,  for,  since  Come- 
Outers  had  been  Come-Outers  and  the  split  in  the 
society  took  place,  no  Regular  minister  had  crossed 

95 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

the  threshold  of  a  seceder's  dwelling,  much  less  at 
tended  their  services  and  walked  home  with  a  mem 
ber  of  their  congregation.  She  knew  what  this  amaz 
ing  procedure  was  likely  to  mean,  if  her  parson  did 
not. 

"Well!"  she  exclaimed  when  the  recital  was 
finished.  "Well!" 

"  I — I'm  afraid  I  was  too  hasty,"  observed  Mr. 
Ellery  thoughtfully.  "  Perhaps  it  would  have  been 
wiser  not  to  have  done  it." 

"  Perhaps  'twould.  Yes,  I  wouldn't  wonder  a 
mite." 

"  It  will  be  talked  about  some,  I  suppose.  Don't 
you  think  so?  " 

"  Some,  yes." 

"  I'm  afraid  some  of  my  own  people  may  think  it 
queer." 

"  Queer!  Say,  Mr.  Ellery,  you  remind  me  of  a 
half-breed  Portugee  feller — half  Portugee  and  a  half 
Indian — that  went  to  sea  with  my  father,  back  in  the 
old  days.  He  hardly  ever  spoke  a  word,  mainly 
grunted  and  made  signs.  One  day  he  and  another 
fo'mast  hand  went  aloft  in  a  calm  to  do  somethin'  to 
the  tops'l.  The  half-breed — they  called  him  Billy 
Peter  and  he  always  called  himself  that — was  out  on 
the  end  of  the  yard,  with  his  foot  on  the  rope  under 
neath,  I  forget  the  name  of  it,  when  the  tarred  twine 
he  had  for  a  shoe  string  caught.  Tryin'  to  get  it 
loose  it  broke  sudden,  his  shoe  pulled  off,  he  lost  his 
balance  and  fell.  He  grabbed  at  the  yard,  saved 
himself  for  a  second,  fell  again,  grabbed  the  next 
yard,  then  a  rope  and  so  on  down,  grabbin'  and 
pullin'  all  the  way.  First  his  shoe  hit  the  deck,  then 
his  sheath  knife,  then  a  piece  of  rope,  and  finally  him- 

96 


OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

self,  landin'  right  on  top  of  the  Irish  cook  who  was 
goin'  aft  from  the  galley  with  father's  dinner. 

"  There  was  the  greatest  racket  you  ever  heard, 
pans  fallin',  dishes  smashin',  men  yellin',  and  the 
cook  swearin'.  Father  run  on  deck,  thinkin'  the  ship 
was  dismasted.  He  found  the  cook  and  Billy  Peter 
sittin'  in  the  middle  of  the  mess,  lookin'  at  each 
other.  Neither  was  hurt  a  mite.  The  mates  and 
the  crew,  part  of  'em,  was  standin'  starin'  at  the  pair. 

"  '  For  Heaven  sakes !  '  says  father;  '  what  hap 
pened?  ' 

"  The  half-breed  looked  up  and  rubbed  his  head. 
'  Ugh !  '  says  he,  '  Billy  Peter  bust  his  shoe  string.' 

"  The  cook,  his  name  was  O'Neill,  looked  at  him 
disgusted.  '  Well,  begorra !  '  says  he,  '  Billy  Peter, 
you  don't  exaggerate  none,  do  ye !  It's  a  good  thing 
both  of  'em  didn't  bust  or  we'd  have  foundered.' 

"  You  remind  me  of  Billy  Peter,  Mr.  Ellery,  you 
don't  exaggerate.  Queer?  Some  folks  think  your 
goin'  to  that  meetin'  last  night  queer?  At  this  mo 
ment  one  half  of  Trumet  is  talkin'  about  it  and  run- 
nin'  out  to  tell  the  other  half.  I  guess  I'd  better 
hurry  up  with  this  breakfast.  We're  goin'  to  have 
callers." 

Strange  to  say,  however,  this  prophecy  of  early 
morning  visitors  did  not  prove  true.  Nine  o'clock, 
then  ten,  and  no  visitor  came  to  the  parsonage. 
Mrs.  Coffin  affirmed  that  she  did  not  understand  it. 
Where  was  Didama?  Where  Lavinia  Pepper? 
Had  the  "  Trumet  Daily  Advertiser "  suspended 
publication  ? 

At  half  past  ten  the  gate  slammed.  Keziah 
peered  from  the  window. 

"Humph!"  she  ejaculated.  "Here  comes  El- 
8  97 


kanah  and  he's  got  storm  signals  set,  by  the  looks. 
He's  comin'  after  you,  Mr.  Ellery." 

"Very  well,"  was  the  calm  reply;  "let  him 
come." 

"  What  are  you  goin'  to  say  to  him?  " 

"  Nothing,  except  that  I  did  what  I  considered 
right  at  the  time.  Show  him  into  the  study,  Mrs. 
Coffin,  please." 

Captain  Daniels  marched  to  the  dining-room 
door,  his  gold-headed  cane  marking  time  like  a  drum 
beat.  He  nodded  curtly  to  Keziah,  who  answered 
the  knock,  and  stepped  across  the  threshold. 

"  Hum — ha !  "  he  barked.  "  Is  the  minister — 
hum — ha!  is  Mr.  Ellery  in?" 

"  Yes,  he's  in." 

"  Tell  him  I  want  to  see  him." 

The  housekeeper  announced  the  visitor. 

"  He's  as  sour  as  a  skimmin'  of  last  week's 
milk,"  she  whispered.  "  Don't  be  afraid  of  him, 
though." 

"  Oh,  I'm  not.     Show  him  in." 

"  All  right.  Say,  Mr.  Ellery,  it's  none  of  my 
business,  but  I  wouldn't  say  anything  about  your 
seein'  Grace  home.  That's  none  of  his  business, 
either,  or  anybody  else's." 

The  head  of  the  parish  committee  stalked  into 
the  study  and  the  door  closed  behind  him.  A  rumble 
of  voices  in  animated  conversation  succeeded. 

Mrs.  Coffin  went  out  into  the  kitchen  and  re 
sumed  her  business  of  making  a  dried-apple  pie. 
There  was  a  hot  fire  in  the  stove  and  she  opened  the 
back  door  to  let  in  the  fresh  air.  She  worked  briskly, 
rolling  out  the  dough,  filling  the  deep  dish,  and  pink 
ing  the  edges  of  the  upper  crust  with  a  fork.  She 

98 


OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

was  thinking  as  she  worked,  but  not  of  the  minister 
or  his  visitor. 

She  put  the  pie  in  the  oven  and  set  the  damper. 
And,  as  she  knelt  by  the  stove,  something  struck  her 
lightly  on  the  back  of  the  neck.  She  looked  up  and 
about  her,  but  there  was  no  one  in  sight.  Then  she 
picked  up  the  object  which  had  struck  her.  It  was  a 
cranberry,  withered  and  softened  by  the  winter  frosts. 

She  looked  at  the  cranberry,  then  at  the  open 
door,  and  her  eyes  twinkled.  Running  quickly  to  the 
threshold  she  peered  out.  The  back  yard  was,  ap 
parently,  empty,  save  for  a  few  hens  belonging  to 
near  neighbors,  and  these  had  stopped  scratching  for 
a  living  and  were  huddled  near  the  fence. 

"Hum!"  she  mused.  "You  rascal!  Eddie 
Snow,  if  it's  you,  I'll  be  after  you  in  a  minute.  Just 
because  you're  big  enough  to  quit  school  and  drive 
store  wagon  is  no  reason  why  I  can't—  Hey? 
Oh!" 

She  was  looking  down  below  the  door,  which 
opened  outward  and  was  swung  partly  back  on  its 
hinges.  From  under  the  door  projected  a  boot,  a 
man's  boot  and  one  of  ample  size. 

Keziah's  cheeks,  already  red  from  the  heat  of  the 
stove,  reddened  still  more.  Her  lips  twitched  and 
her  eyes  sparkled. 

"  Hum !  "  she  said  again.  "  They  say  you  can 
tell  the  Old  Scratch  by  his  footprints,  even  if  you 
can't  smell  the  sulphur.  Anyhow,  you  can  tell  a 
Hammond  by  the  size  of  his  boots.  Come  out  from 
behind  that  door  this  minute.  Ain't  you  ashamed  of 
yourself?  " 

The  owner  of  the  boot  stepped  forth  from  be 
hind  the  door  and  seized  her  by  both  hands. 

99 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Halloo,  Keziah  !  "  he  cried  joyfully.  "  My, 
but  it's  good  to  see  you." 

"Halloo,  Nat!"  said  Keziah  heartily.  "It's 
kind  of  good  to  see  you,  too." 

The  rest  of  him  was  in  keeping  with  his  boots. 
He  was  big  and  broad-shouldered  and  bearded.  His 
face,  above  the  beard,  was  tanned  to  a  deep  reddish 
brown,  and  the  corners  of  his  eyes  were  marked  with 
dozens  of  tiny  wrinkles.  He  was  dressed  in  blue 
cloth  and  wore  a  wide-brimmed,  soft  felt  hat.  He 
entered  the  kitchen  and  tossed  the  hat  into  a 
corner. 

"  Well !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Why  don't  you  act 
surprised  to  see  a  feller?  Here  I've  been  cruisin' 
from  the  Horn  to  Barnegat  and  back  again,  and  you 
act  as  if  I'd  just  dropped  in  to  fetch  the  cup  of  mo 
lasses  I  borrowed  yesterday.  What  do  you  mean 
by  it?" 

"  Oh,  I  heard  you'd  made  port." 

"  Did,  hey?  That's  Trumet,  sure  pop.  You 
ain't  the  only  one.  I  sneaked  off  acrost  lots  so's  to 
dodge  the  gang  of  neighbors  that  I  knew  would  be 
sailin'  into  our  yard,  the  whole  fleet  loaded  to  the 
gunwale  with  questions.  Wanted  to  see  you  first, 
Keziah." 

'  Yes.  So,  instead  of  callin'  like  a  Christian,  you 
crept  up  the  back  way  and  threw  cranberries  at  me. 
Ain't  you  ashamed  of  yourself?" 

"  Not  a  mite."  He  took  a  handful  of  the  frost 
bitten  berries  from  his  coat  pocket  and  inspected 
them  lovingly.  "  Ain't  they  fine?  "  he  asked,  crunch 
ing  two  or  three  between  his  teeth.  "  I  picked  'em 
up  as  I  came  along.  I  tell  you,  that's  the  home  taste, 
all  right." 

100 


OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

"  Don't  eat  those  frozen  things.  They'll  give 
you  your  never-get-over." 

"What?  Cape  Cod  cranberries!  Never  in  the 
world.  I'd  rather  eat  sand  down  here  than  the  finest 
mug  my  steward  can  cook.  Tell  you  what  I'll  do, 
though;  I'll  swear  off  on  the  cranberries  if  you'll  give 
me  a  four-inch  slice  of  that  pie  I  saw  you  put  in  the 
oven.  Dried-apple,  I'll  bet  my  sou'wester.  Think 
you  might  ask  a  feller  to  sit  down.  Ain't  you  glad 
to  see  me?  " 

Mrs.  Coffin  pulled  forward  one  of  the  kitchen 
chairs.  He  seated  himself  on  it  and  it  groaned  under 
his  weight. 

"  Whew !  "  he  whistled.  "  Never  made  to  stand 
rough  weather,  was  it?  Well,  ain't  you  glad?" 

Keziah  looked  at  him  gravely. 

"  You  know  I'm  glad,  Nat,"  she  said. 

"So?  I  hoped  you  would  be,  but  I  did  want  to 
hear  you  say  it.  Now  you  come  to  anchor  yourself 
and  let's  have  a  talk.  I've  been  countin'  on  it  ever 
since  we  set  tops'ls  off  Surinam." 

The  housekeeper  took  the  other  chair. 

"  How  are  you—  "  she  began.     He  stopped  her. 

"  S-shh !  "  he  interrupted.  "  Don't  say  anything 
for  a  minute.  Let  me  look  at  you.  Just  as  clean  and 
wholesome  and  good-lookin'  as  ever.  They  don't 
make  girls  like  that  anywhere  else  but  down  on  this 
old  sand  bar.  Not  a  day  older,  by  the  jumpin' 

She  held  up  her  hand. 

"Hush,  Nat,"  she  protested;  "don't  talk  fool 
ish.  Girl?  Not  a  day  older?  Why,  if  feelin's 
count  for  anything,  I'm  as  old  as  Methusaleh. 
Haven't  I  had  enough  to  make  me  old?" 

He  was  grave  immediately. 
101 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Keziah,"  he  said.  "  I'm  a 
dough  head,  that's  a  fact.  I  hadn't  forgot  about  Sol, 
but  I  was  so  glad  to  be  home  again  and  to  see  dad 
and  Grace  and  the  old  town  and  you  that  every 
thing  else  flew  out  of  my  mind.  Poor  Sol !  I  liked 
him." 

"  He  liked  you,  too.  No  wonder,  considerin' 
what  you  did  to " 

"  Belay!  Never  mind  that.  Poor  chap!  Well, 
he's  rid  of  his  sufferin's  at  last.  Tell  me  about  it,  if 
you  can  without  bringin'  all  the  trouble  back  too 
plain." 

So  she  told  him  of  her  brother's  sickness  and 
death,  of  having  to  give  up  the  old  home,  and,  finally, 
of  her  acceptance  of  the  housekeeper's  position.  He 
listened,  at  first  with  sympathy  and  then  with  sup 
pressed  indignation. 

"  By  the  jumpin'  Moses!  "  he  exclaimed.  "  And 
Elkanah  was  goin'  to  turn  you  out  of  house  and 
home.  The  mean,  pompous  old — 

"  Hush !  hush !  he's  in  there  with  Mr.  Ellery." 

"Who?     Elkanah?" 

"  Yes;  they're  in  the  study." 

"  By  the  jumpin'-  Let  me  talk  to  him  for  a 
few  minutes.  I'll  tell  him  what's  good  for  his  health. 
You  just  listen." 

He  rose  from  the  chair,  but  she  made  him  sit 
down  again. 

"  No,  no,"  she  protested.  "  He  wasn't  to  blame. 
He  had  to  have  his  rent  and  I  didn't  feel  that  I  could 
afford  to  keep  up  a  whole  house,  just  for  myself. 
And,  besides,  I  ought  to  be  thankful  to  him,  I  sup 
pose.  He  got  me  this  place." 

"He  did?" 

102 


OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

"  Yes,   he   did.      I   rather  guess   Zeb    Mayo   or 
somebody    may    have    suggested    it    to    him    first, 


"  Humph  !     I  rather  guess  so,  too." 

"  Well,  you  can't  always  tell.  Sometimes  when 
you  really  get  inside  of  a  person  you  find  a  generous 
streak  that— 

"  Not  in  a  Daniels.  Anybody  that  got  inside  of 
Elkanah  would  find  nothin'  but  Elkanah  there,  and 
'twould  be  crowded  at  that.  So  he's  talkin'  to  the 
new  parson,  hey?  Bossin'  him,  too,  I'll  bet." 

"  I  ain't  so  sure.  Mr.  Ellery's  young,  but  he's 
got  a  mind  of  his  own." 

Captain  Hammond  chuckled  and  slapped  his 
knee. 

"  Ho,  ho  !  "  he  laughed.  "  I've  been  hearin' 
somethin'  about  that  mind.  Went  to  the  chapel  last 
night,  I  understand,  and  he  and  dad  had  a  set-to. 
Oh,  I  heard  about  it  !  Wish  I  might  have  been 
there." 

"How  does  your  father  act  about  it?" 
'  'Bout  the  way  a  red-hot  stove  acts  when  you 
spill  water  on  it;  every  time  he  thinks  of  the  minister 
he  sizzles.     Ho,  ho  !     I  do  wish  I  could  have  been 
there." 

"What  does  Grace  say?" 

"  Oh,  she  doesn't  say  much.  I  wouldn't  wonder 
if  she  felt  the  way  I  do,  though  we  both  keep  quiet. 
I'll  tell  you,  between  ourselves  and  the  ship's  pump, 
that  I  sort  of  glory  in  the  young  chap's  spunk." 

"Good!     So  do  I.     I  like  him." 

"See  here,  Keziah  !  I'm  gettin'  frightened. 
You  ain't  settin'  your  cap  to  be  a  parson's  wife,  are 
you  ?  Because  -  " 

103 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Don't  be  silly.  I  might  adopt  him,  but  that's 
all,  I  guess." 

Her  friend  leaned  forward. 

"  Keziah,"  he  said  earnestly,  "  there's  no  sense  in 
your  slavin'  yourself  to  death  here.  I  can  think  of  a 
good  deal  pleasanter  berth  than  that.  Pleasanter  for 
me,  anyhow,  and  I'd  do  my  best  to  make  it  pleasant 
for  you.  You've  only  got  to  say  the  word  and— 
No  ?  Well,  then  all  I  can  do  is  hope  through  another 
voyage." 

"  Please  don't,  Nat.     You  know." 

"  No,  I  don't  know." 

'  Well,  perhaps  you  don't.  But  /  know.  I  like 
you,  Nat.  I  count  on  you  as  the  straightest,  truest 
friend  I've  got;  and  I  want  to  keep  on  countin'  on 
you  just  that  way.  Mayn't  I  ?  " 

'  'Course  you  can,  Keziah.     But 

'  Then  don't  say  another  word,  please." 

He  sighed  and  looked  out  at  the  open  door.  The 
kitchen  clock  ticked  loud  in  the  silence. 

"  All  right,"  he  said  at  last.  "  All  right,  but  I'm 
goin'  to  keep  on  hopin'." 

"  You  mustn't,  Nat." 

"  Keziah,  when  you  set  your  foot  down  you're 
pretty  stubborn ;  but  I've  got  somethin'  of  a  foot  my 
self.  You  remember  you  said  so  a  few  minutes  ago. 
Hi,  hum !  Well,  speakin'  of  dad  reminds  me  that 
I'm  kind  of  worried  about  him." 

"  You  are  ?    Why  ?     Isn't  he  well  ?  " 

u  Pretty  well,  but  he  ain't  strong,  and  he  gets  too 
excited  over  things  like  last  night's  foolishness. 
Grace  tells  me  that  the  doctor  says  he  must  be  care 
ful  or  he'll  drop  off  sudden  some  of  these  days.  He 
had  a  shock  five  or  six  years  ago,  a  little  one,  and  I've 

104 


OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

been  anxious  about  him  ever  since.  I've  got  to  go 
to  New  York  off  and  on  for  the  next  month;  after 
that  I  hope  to  be  home  for  a  spell  and  I  can  keep  an 
eye  on  him.  Keziah,  if  you'll  listen  I'll  whisper 
somethin'  to  you — religion's  a  good  thing  and  so's  a 
mustard  plaster,  but  both  of  'em  can  be  put  on  too 
strong.  Dad  is  just  a  little  mite  crazy  on  Come- 
Outers,  I'm  afraid." 

"Oh,  no,  I  guess  not!  You  mustn't  worry. 
How  did  Grace  look  to  you  ?  " 

"  Like  the  harbor  light  on  a  stormy  night.  She's 
a  brick,  that  girl,  and  gets  prettier  every  minute. 
Wonder  to  me  some  of  the  young  chaps  down  here 
don't  carry  her  off  by  main  strength.  She'll  make 
somebody  a  good  wife." 

"  Um-hm.  Have — have  you  ever  thought  of  her 
that  way  yourself?  " 

"Keziah!" 

"  Well,  don't  get  mad.  I  think  a  lot  of  Grace, 
and  I  don't  know  anyone  I'd  rather  see  you  marry." 

"  I  do.  Keziah,  that's  enough  of  that.  Are  you 
and  dad  in  partnership  to  get  me  spliced  and  out  of 
the  way?  He  was  at  me  this  mornin'  along  the  same 
line.  Don't  say  anything  like  that  again,  even  in  fun. 
You  know  why." 

"  All  right,  all  right.  Now  tell  me  about  your 
self.  Have  you  had  a  good  voyage?  How  do  you 
like  your  owners?  How  did  Zach  Foster  ever  get 
the  packet  in  through  yesterday's  fog?" 

"  Voyage  was  all  right.  Some  rugged  weather 
on  the  trip  out,  but  homeward  bound  we  slid  along 
like  a  slush  bucket  on  a  greased  plank.  Owners  are 
all  right.  Good  people  as  ever  I  sailed  for.  As  for 
Zach  and  the  packet —  Ho,  ho !  " 

105 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

He  laughed,  rocking  back  and  forth  on  the  chair, 
which  creaked  in  sympathy. 

"  What's  the  joke?  "  demanded  the  housekeeper. 
"  Don't  do  that!  That  chair  wasn't  made  for  ele 
phants  to  use." 

"  Hey?  'Tis  pretty  weak  in  the  knees,  ain't  it? 
Dad  would  say  'twas  a  piece  with  the  creed  of  those 
that  owned  it.  I —  What's  that?  Somebody's  com- 
in'.  I'm  goin'  to  clear  out.  I  don't  want  to  be  put 
through  my  catechism  yet  a  while." 

"  No,  you  mustn't  go.  I  want  you  to  meet  Mr. 
Ellery.  You  sit  out  on  the  wash  bench  by  the  back 
door  till  I  get  rid  of  whoever  'tis  that's  comin'. 
Scoot!" 

Nat  "  scooted,"  stopping  to  snatch  up  his  hat  as 
he  ran.  Keziah  went  into  the  dining  room  and  ad 
mitted  Captain  Zebedee  Mayo,  who  was  panting 
from  the  exertion  of  his  walk. 

'  Whew !  "  puffed  Captain  Zeb,  mopping  his 
forehead.  "How  be  you,  Keziah?  What?  You 
ain't  all  alone !  Thought  you'd  have  a  cabin  full  of 
gab  machines  by  this  time.  Have  they  been  and 
gone?" 

"  No,  they  haven't  been.  I-  My  land,  my 
pie!  " 

She  rushed  into  the  kitchen  and  snatched  the 
pastry  from  the  oven.  Her  new  caller  followed 
her. 

"So  they  ain't  been,  hey?"  he  said.  "That's 
queer." 

"  Elkanah's  here.  He's  in  there  with  the  min 
ister  now." 

"  He  is?  Givin'  the  young  feller  Hail  Columby, 
I  cal'late.  Well,  now,  he  shan't.  He,  he!  When 

106 


OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

they  told  me  how  the  minister  passed  old  hop-and-go- 
fetch-it  what  was  due  him  at  the  chapel  last  night  I 
riz  up  and  hoorayed  till  my  wife  shut  the  windows. 
She  said  the  neighbors  all  thought  I  was  loony,  any 
how,  and  I  needn't  prove  it  to  'em.  He,  he !  But 
Elkanah  ain't  got  any  funny  bone.  He's  as  solemn 
as  a  stuffed  owl,  and  he'll—  Well,  I'm  goin'  to  put 
my  oar  in.  I'm  parish  committee,  too,  I  cal'late, 
and  I've  got  somethin'  to  say,  even  if  I  wa'n't  chris 
tened  Daniels.  Here  goes!" 

He  headed  for  the  study,  but  before  he  crossed 
the  threshold  of  the  kitchen  Ellery  and  his  visitor 
came  out  into  the  dining  room.  Captain  Elkanah's 
face  was  flushed,  and  he  fidgeted.  The  minister 
looked  determined  but  calm. 

"  Ahoy  there,  Elkanah !  "  hailed  Zebedee  cheer 
fully.  "  'Mornin',  Mr.  Ellery.  Been  havin'  officers' 
counsel,  have  you?" 

"  Good  morning,  Captain  Mayo,"  said  the  min 
ister. 

"  'Mornin',  Zebedee,"  grunted  Elkanah.  "  I 
have — hum — ha  ! — been  discussing  the  regrettable 
affair  of  last  night  with  Mr.  Ellery.  I  have  tried- 
hum — ha !  to  show  him  that  respectable  people  of  our 
society  don't  associate  with  Come-Outers,  and  that 
for  a  Regular  minister  to  go  to  their  meetings  is 
something  neither  the  congregation  nor  the  parish 
committee  approves  of.  No — er — hum — ha!  no!" 

"  And  I  explained  to  Captain  Daniels,"  observed 
the  minister,  "  that  I  went  there  for  what  seemed  to 
me  good  reasons,  and,  as  they  did  seem  to  me  good 
at  the  time,  I'm  not  ashamed  of  having  gone.  It 
was  an  honest  mistake  on  my  part  and  I  may  make 
more." 

107 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  But  the  society—  '  began  Elkanah.  Captain 
Zeb  interrupted  him. 

"  Don't  worry  about  the  society,  Mr.  Ellery,"  he 
said  with  emphasis.  "  Nor  about  the  parish  commit 
tee,  either.  Great  fishhooks !  the  most  of  us  are 
tickled  to  death  over  what  you  said  to  Eben  Ham 
mond.  We  think  it's  a  mighty  good  joke.  You 
didn't  know,  of  course,  and  what  you  did  was  done 
innocent.  He  !  he  !  he  !  Did  you  lay  him  out,  hey?  " 

"  Zebedee,"  began  Captain  Daniels,  "  I  must  say 
I  can't  see  anything  to  laugh  at." 

'  You  never  could,  Elkanah.  I  remember  that 
time  when  you  and  me  and  some  of  the  fellers  home 
from  sea  went  out  sailin'  and  the  boom  knocked  you 
overboard  with  your  Sunday  clothes  on.  Lordy, 
how  the  rest  of  us  did  holler !  but  you  never  cracked 
a  smile.  If  you'd  seen  yourself  when  we  hauled  you 
in!  whiskers  runnin'  salt  water;  beaver  hat  lookin' 
like  a  drownded  kitten— 

'  There  !  There !  Never  mind  that.  I  think 
you'll  find  a  good  many  of  the  society  feel  as  I  do, 
shocked  and — hum — ha  ! — sorry.  I'm  surprised 
they  haven't  been  here  to  say  so." 

"  I  expected  them,"  remarked  the  minister. 

"  So  did  I,"  chimed  in  Captain  Zeb.  "  But  I 
cal'late  to  know  why  they  ain't  been.  They're  all 
too  busy  crowin'  over  the  way  Nat  Hammond 
fetched  the  packet  home  last  night.  What?  You 
ain't  heard?  Great  fishhooks!  it's  the  best  thing 
ever — 

"  I've  heard  about  it,"  snapped  Elkanah  impa 
tiently.  "  Mr.  Ellery,  I'm  glad  you  realize  that  your 
action  was  a  mistake  and  I  will  take  pains  to  have 

that  immejitly  made  plain  to " 

108 


OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

"  You  ain't  heard,  Keziah,  have  you?  "  broke  in 
Zebedee.  "  Nor  you,  Mr.  Ellery?  Well,  I  must  tell 
you.  Here's  where  I  gain  a  lap  on  Didama  Rogers. 
Seems  the  Deborah  S. — that's  the  packet's  name, 
Mr.  Ellery — she  hauled  out  of  Boston  night  afore 
last  on  the  ebb,  with  a  fair  wind  and  sky  clear  as  a 
bell.  But  they  hadn't  much  more'n  got  outside  of 
Minot's  'fore  the  fog  shut  down,  thicker'n  gruel  for 
a  sick  rich  man.  The  wind  held  till  'long  toward 
mornin';  then  she  flattened  to  a  dead  calm.  'Bije 
Perry,  the  mate,  he  spun  the  yarn  to  me,  and  he  said 
'twas  thick  and  flat  as  ever  he  see  and  kept  gettin'  no 
better  fast. 

'  They  drifted  along  till  noon  time  and  then  they 
was  somewheres  out  in  the  bay,  but  that's  about  all 
you  could  say.  Zach,  he  was  stewin'  and  sputterin' 
like  a  pair  of  fried  eels,  and  Lafayette  Gage  and 
Emulous  Peters — they're  Denboro  folks,  Mr.  Ellery, 
and  about  sixteen  p'ints  t'other  side  of  no  account— 
they  was  the  only  passengers  aboard  except  Nat 
Hammond,  and  they  put  in  their  time  playin'  high 
low  jack  in  the  cabin.  The  lookout  was  for'ard 
tootin'  a  tin  horn  and  his  bellerin'  was  the  most  ex- 
citin'  thing  goin'  on.  After  dinner — corned  beef  and 
cabbage — trust  Zach  for  that,  though  it's  next 
door  to  cannibalism  to  put  cabbage  in  his  mouth 
—after  dinner  all  hands  was  on  deck  when 
Nat  says :  '  Hush !  '  he  says.  '  Don't  I  hear  some- 
thin'  ?  ' 

"  They  listened,  and  then  they  all  heard  it — all 
'cept  Zach,  who's  deef  in  his  larboard  ear. 

"'Stand  by!'  roars  Nat.  'It's  a  squall,  dead 
astern  and  comin'  abilin' !  I'll  take  her,  'Bije.  You 
look  out  for  them  tops'ls.' 

109 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  So  Nat  grabs  the  wheel  and  'Bije  tears  for'ard 
and  sends  the  two  fo'mast  hands  aloft  on  the  jump. 
Zach  was  skipper,  but  all  he  done  was  race  around 
and  holler  and  trip  over  his  own  feet.  Oh,  he's  a 
prize  sailor,  he  is !  Don^t  talk  to  me  about  them 
Fosters!  I " 

"  Nobody  is  talkin'  about  'em  but  you,  Zeb,"  ob 
served  Keziah  drily.  "  Go  on.  How  about  the 
squall?" 

"  It  hit  'em  'fore  they  got  even  one  tops'l  clewed 
down.  That  one,  the  foretops'l  'twas,  split  to  rags. 
The  main  tops'l  was  set,  and  when  the  squall  struck, 
the  rotten  old  topmast  went  by  the  board  '  Ker- 
rash-o !  '  'Course  splinters  flew  like  all  possessed, 
and  one  of  'em,  about  a  foot  long,  sailed  past  Nat's 
head,  where  he  stood  heavin'  his  whole  weight  on  the 
wheel,  and  lit  right  on  the  binnacle,  smashin'  it  to 
matches. 

'  They  say  Nat  never  paid  the  least  attention,  no 
more'n  if  the  chunk  of  wood  had  been  a  June  bug 
buzzin'  past.  He  just  held  that  wheel  hard  down 
and  that  saved  the  packet.  She  come  around  and  put 
her  nose  dead  in  the  wind  just  in  time.  As  'twas, 
'Bije  says  there  was  a  second  when  the  water  by  her 
lee  rail  looked  right  underneath  him  as  he  hung  onto 
the  deck  with  finger  nails  and  teeth. 

;'  Well,  there  they  was,  afloat,  but  with  their  up 
per  riggin'  gone  and  the  compass  smashed  flat.  A 
howlin'  no'thwester  blowin'  and  fog  thick  as  ever. 
Zach  was  a  whimperin',  fidgetin'  old  woman,  Lafa 
yette  and  Emulous  was  prayin'  in  the  scuppers — and 
that  ain't  an  exercise  they're  used  to,  neither — and 
even  'Bije  was  mighty  shook  up  and  worried — he 
says  he  was  himself.  But  Nat  Hammond  was  as 

no 


cool   and  refreshin'   as  the  bottom   of  my  well  up 
home. 

'  Better    clear    away    that    mess    aloft,    hadn't 
you  ?  '  he  says  to  the  skipper. 

"  Zach  said  he  guessed  so;  he  wa'n't  sure  of 
nothin'.  However,  they  cleared  it  away,  and  inci 
dentally  'Bije  yanked  the  prayer  meetin'  out  of  the 
scuppers  and  set  'em  to  work.  Then  Nat  suggests 
gettin'  the  spare  compass  and,  lo  and  behold  you ! 
there  wa'n't  any.  Compasses  cost  money  and  mon 
ey's  made  to  keep,  so  Zach  thinks. 

"  So  there  they  was.  Wind  was  fair,  or  ought 
to  be,  but  'twas  blowin'  hard  and  so  thick  you  couldn't 
hardly  see  the  jib  boom.  Zach  he  wanted  to  anchor, 
then  he  didn't,  then  he  did,  and  so  on.  Nobody  paid 
much  attention  to  him. 

"  '  What'll  we  do,  Nat?'  says  'Bije.  He  knew 
who  was  the  real  seaman  aboard. 

"  '  Keep  her  as  she  is,  dead  afore  it,  if  you  ask 
me,'  says  Nat.  '  Guess  we'll  hit  the  broadside  of  the 
cape  somewheres  if  this  gale  holds.' 

"  So  they  kept  her  as  she  was.  And  it  got  to  be 
night  and  they  knew  they'd  ought  to  be  'most  onto  the 
edge  of  the  flats  off  here,  if  their  reck'nin'  was  nigh 
right.  They  hove  the  lead  and  got  five  fathom.  No 
flats  about  that. 

"  Zach  was  for  anchorin'  again.  '  What  do  you 
think,  Nat?'  asks  'Bije. 

"  '  Anchor,  of  course,  if  you  want  to,'  Nat  says. 
'  You're  runnin'  this  craft.  I'm  only  passenger.' 

'But    what    do    you    think?'1    whines    Zach. 
'  Can't  you  tell  us  what  you  do  think?  ' 

'  Well,  if  'twas  me,  I  wouldn't  anchor  till  I  had 
to.      Prob'ly    'twill    fair   off    to-morrow,    but    if    it 

in 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

shouldn't,  we  might  have  to  lay  out  here  all  day. 
Anyhow,  we'd  have  to  wait  for  a  full  tide.' 

"  '  I'm  afraid  we're  off  the  course,'  says  'Bije, 
4  else  we'd  been  acrost  the  bar  by  this  time.' 

"  '  Well,'  Nat  tells  him,  '  if  we  are  off  the  course 
and  too  far  inshore,  we  would  have  made  the  bar— 
the  Bayport  bar — if  not  the  Trumet  one.  And  if 
we're  off  the  course  and  too  far  out,  we'd  ought  to 
have  deeper  water  than  five  fathom,  hadn't  we? 
'Course  I'm  not  sure,  but —  What's  that,  lands 
man?  ' 

"  '  Three  and  a  half,  sir,'  says  the  feller  with  the 
lead.  That  showed  they  was  edgin'  in  somewheres. 
Nat  he  sniffed,  for  all  the  world  like  a  dog  catchin' 
a  scent,  so  'Bije  declares. 

'  I  can  smell  home,'  he  says. 
'  Three  fathom  the  lead  give  'em,  then  two  and 
a  half,  then  a  scant  two.    They  was  drawin'  six  feet. 
Zach  couldn't  stand  it. 

'  I'm  goin'  to  anchor,'  he  squeals,  frantic.  '  I 
believe  we're  plumb  over  to  Wellmouth  and  drivin' 
right  onto  Horsefoot  Shoal.' 

*  It's  either  that  or  the  bar,'  chimes  in  'Bije. 
'  And  whichever  'tis,  we  can't  anchor  in  the  middle 
of  it.' 

"  '  But  what'll  we  do?  '  shouts  Zach.  '  Can't  no 
body  say  somethin'  to  do?  ' 

'  Tell  you  I  smell  home,'  says  Nat,  calm  and 
chipper,  '  and  I'd  know  that  smell  if  I  met  it  in  Jeri 
cho.  Ha!  there  she  deepens  again.  That  was  the 
bar  and  we're  over  it.' 

'The  wind  had  gone  down  to  a  stiff  sailin' 
breeze,  and  the  old  Debby  S.  slapped  along  afore  it. 
Sometimes  there  was  twelve  foot  under  her  keel  and 

112 


OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

sometimes  eight  or  nine.  Once  'twas  only  seven  and 
a  half.  Zach  and  'Bije  both  looked  at  each  other, 
but  Nat  only  smiled. 

"  '  Oh,  you  can  laugh !  '  hollers  Zach.  '  'Tain't 
your  vessel  you're  runnin'  into  danger.  You  ain't 
paid  out  your  good  money — 

"  Nat  never  answered;  but  he  stopped  smilin'. 

"  And  all  to  once  the  water  deepened.  Ham 
mond  swung  her  up  into  the  wind. 

'  Now  you  can  anchor,'  says  he. 
'  And  'bout  time,  too,  I  guess,'  says  'Bije.     '  I 
cal'late  the  skipper's  right.     This  is  Horsefoot  and 
we're  right  between  the  shoals.     Yes,  sir,  and  I  hear 
breakers.     Lively  there !  ' 

'  They   hove   over  the   mudhook   and   dropped 
the  sails.     Nat  shook  his  head. 

'  Breakers  or  not,'  says  he,  '  I  tell  you  I've 
smelt  home  for  the  last  half  hour.  Now,  by  the 
jumpin'  Moses,  I  can  taste  it !  ' 

"  And  inside  of  a  couple  of  shakes  come  the 
rain.  It  poured  for  a  while  and  then  the  fog  cleared. 
Right  acrost  their  bows  was  Trumet,  with  the  town 
clock  strikin'  ten.  Over  the  flat  place  between  the 
hills  they  could  see  the  light  on  the  ocean  side.  And 
they  was  anchored  right  in  the  deep  hole  inside  the 
breakwater,  as  sure  as  I'm  knee  high  to  a  marlin 
spike ! 

'  'Bije  just  stared  at  Hammond  with  his  mouth 
open. 

*  Nat,'  says  he,  '  you're  a  seaman,  if  I  do  say 
it.  I  thought  I  was  a  pretty  good  bay  pilot,  but  I 
can't  steer  a  vessel  without  a  compass  through  a  night 
as  black  as  Pharaoh's  Egypt,  and  in  a  thick  fog 
besides,  and  land  her  square  on  top  of  her  moorin's. 
9  113 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

If  my  hat  wa'n't  sloshin'  around  thirty  mile  astern, 
I  snum  if  I  wouldn't  take  it  off  to  you  this  minute !  ' 

"  '  Nat,'  stammers  Zach,  '  I  must  say  I— 

"  Nat  snapped  him  shut  like  a  tobacco  box. 
'  You  needn't,'  says  he.  '  But  I'll  say  this  to  you, 
Zach  Foster.  When  I  undertake  to  handle  a  vessel 
I  handle  her  best  I  know  how,  and  the  fact  that  I 
don't  own  her  makes  no  difference  to  me.  You  just 
put  that  down  somewheres  so  you  won't  forget  it.' 

"  And  this  mornin',"  crowed  Captain  Zebedee, 
concluding  his  long  yarn,  "  after  that,  mind  you,  that 
lubber  Zach  Foster  is  around  town  tellin'  folks  that 
his  schooner  had  been  over  the  course  so  often  she 
couldn't  get  lost.  She  found  her  way  home  herself. 
What  do  you  think  of  that?  " 

The  two  members  of  the  parish  committee  left 
the  parsonage  soon  after  Captain  Mayo  had  finished 
his  story.  Elkanah  had  listened  with  growing  irri 
tation  and  impatience.  Zebedee  lingered  a  moment 
behind  his  companions. 

"  Don't  you  fret  yourself  about  what  happened 
last  night,  Mr.  Ellery,"  he  whispered.  "  It'll  be  all 
right.  'Course  nobody' d  want  you  to  keep  up  chum- 
min'  in  with  Come-Outers,  but  what  you  said  to  old 
Eben'll  square  you  this  time.  So  long." 

The  minister  shut  the  door  behind  his  departing 
guests.  Then  he  went  out  into  the  kitchen,  whither 
the  housekeeper  had  preceded  him.  He  found  her 
standing  on  the  back  step,  looking  across  the  fields. 
The  wash  bench  was  untenanted. 

"Hum!"  mused  Ellery  thoughtfully,  "that 
was  a  good  story  of  Captain  Mayo's.  This  man 
Hammond  must  be  a  fine  chap.  I  should  like  to 
meet  him." 

114 


OLD    FRIENDS    MEET 

Keziah  still  looked  away  over  the  fields.  She 
did  not  wish  her  employer  to  see  her  face — just 
then. 

"  I  thought  you  would  meet  him,"  she  said. 
"  He  was  here  a  little  while  ago  and  I  asked  him 
to  wait.  I  guess  Zeb's  yarn  was  too  much  for  him; 
he  doesn't  like  to  be  praised." 

"So?  Was  he  here?  At  the  Regular  parson 
age?  I'm  surprised." 

"  He  and  I  have  known  each  other  for  a  long 
while." 

"  Well,  I'm  sorry  he's  gone.  I  think  I  should 
like  him." 

Keziah  turned  from  the  door. 

"  I  know  you  would,"  she  said. 


CHAPTER  VII 

IN    WHICH    CAPTAIN    NAT    PICKS    UP    A    DERELICT 

IT  is  probable  that  John  Ellery  never  fully  real 
ized  the  debt  of  gratitude  he  owed  to  the  fog 
and  the  squall  and  to  Captain  Nat  Hammond. 
Trumet,  always  hungry  for  a  sensation,  would  have 
thoroughly  enjoyed  arguing  and  quarreling  over  the 
minister's  visit  to  Come-Outer  meeting,  and,  during 
the  fracas,  Keziah's  parson  might  have  been  more 
or  less  battered.  But  Captain  Nat's  brilliant  pilot 
ing  of  the  old  packet  was  a  bit  of  seamanship  which 
every  man  and  woman  on  that  foam-bordered  stretch 
of  sand  could  understand  and  appreciate,  and  the 
minister's  indiscretion  was  all  but  forgotten  in  conse 
quence.  The  "  Daily  Advertisers  "  gloated  over  it, 
of  course,  and  Captain  Elkanah  brought  it  up  at  the 
meeting  of  the  parish  committee,  but  there  Captain 
Zeb  Mayo  championed  the  young  man's  course  and 
proclaimed  that,  fur's  he  was  concerned,  he  was  for 
Mr.  Ellery  more'n  ever.  "  A  young  greenhorn  with 
the  spunk  to  cruise  single-handed  right  into  the  mid 
dle  of  the  Come-Outer  school  and  give  an  old  bull 
whale  like  Eben  the  gaff  is  the  man  for  my  money," 
declared  Zebedee.  Most  of  his  fellow-committee 
agreed  with  him.  "  Not  guilty,  but  don't  do  it 
again,"  was  the  general  verdict. 

As  for  the  Come-Outers,  they  professed  to  believe 
116 


A    DERELICT 

that  their  leader  had  much  the  best  of  the  encounter, 
so  they  were  satisfied.  There  was  a  note  of  triumph 
and  exultation  in  the  u  testimony  "  given  on  the  fol 
lowing  Thursday  night,  and  Captain  Eben  divided 
his  own  discourse  between  thankfulness  for  his  son's 
safe  return  and  glorification  at  the  discomfiture  of 
the  false  prophets.  Practically,  then,  the  result  of 
Ellery's  peace  overture  was  an  increased  bitterness 
in  the  feeling  between  the  two  societies  and  a  polish 
ing  of  weapons  on  both  sides. 

Keziah  wyatched  anxiously  for  a  hint  concerning 
her  parson's  walk  in  the  rain  with  Grace,  but  she 
heard  nothing,  so  congratulated  herself  that  the 
secret  had  been  kept.  Ellery  did  not  again  mention 
it  to  her,  nor  she  to  him.  A  fortnight  later  he 
preached  his  great  sermon  on  "  The  Voyage  of  Life," 
and  its  reference  to  gales  and  calms  and  lee  shores 
and  breakers  made  a  hit.  His  popularity  took  a 
big  jump. 

He  met  Nat  Hammond  during  that  fortnight. 
The  first  meeting  was  accompanied  by  unusual  cir 
cumstances,  which  might  have  been  serious,  but  were 
actually  only  funny. 

The  tide  at  Trumet,  on  the  bay  side,  goes  out 
for  a  long  way,  leaving  uncovered  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  flats,  bare  and  sandy,  or  carpeted  with  seaweed. 
Between  these  flats  are  the  channels,  varying  at  low 
water  from  two  to  four  feet  in  depth,  but  deepening 
rapidly  as  the  tide  flows. 

The  flats  fascinated  the  young  minister,  as  they 
have  many  another  visitor  to  the  Cape,  before  or 
since.  On  cloudy  days  they  lowered  with  a  dull, 
leaden  luster  and  the  weed-grown  portions  were  like 
the  dark  squares  on  a  checkerboard,  while  the  deep 

117 


KEZIAH   COFFIN 

water  beyond  the  outer  bar  was  steely  gray  and 
angry.  When  the  sun  shone  and  the  wind  blew 
clear  from  the  northwest  the  whole  expanse  flashed 
into  fire  and  color,  sapphire  blue,  emerald  green, 
topaz  yellow,  dotted  with  white  shells  and  ablaze 
with  diamond  sparkles  where  the  reflected  light 
leaped  from  the  flint  crystals  of  the  wet,  coarse 
sand. 

The  best  time  to  visit  the  flats — tide  serving,  of 
course — is  the  early  morning  at  sunrise.  Then  there 
is  an  inspiration  in  the  wide  expanse,  a  snap  and  tang 
and  joy  in  the  air.  Ellery  had  made  up  his  mind 
to  take  a  be  fore-breakfast  tramp  to  the  outer  bar 
and  so  arose  at  five,  tucked  a  borrowed  pair  of  fish 
erman's  boots  beneath  his  arm,  and,  without  saying 
anything  to  his  housekeeper,  walked  down  the  lawn 
behind  the  parsonage,  climbed  the  rail  fence,  and 
"  cut  across  lots  "  to  the  pine  grove  on  the  bluff. 
There  he  removed  his  shoes,  put  on  the  boots,  wal 
lowed  through  the  mealy  yellow  sand  forming  the 
slope  of  the  bluff,  and  came  out  on  the  white  beach 
and  the  inner  edge  of  the  flats.  Then  he  plashed  on, 
bound  out  to  where  the  fish  weirs  stood,  like  webby 
fences,  in  the  distance. 

It  was  a  wonderful  walk  on  a  wonderful  day. 
The  minister  enjoyed  every  minute  of  it.  Out  here 
he  could  forget  the  petty  trials  of  life,  the  Didamas 
and  Elkanahs.  The  wind  blew  his  hat  off  and 
dropped  it  in  a  shallow  channel,  but  he  splashed  to 
the  rescue  and  laughed  aloud  as  he  fished  it  out.  It 
was  not  much  wetter  than  it  had  been  that  night  of 
the  rain,  when  he  tried  to  lend  his  umbrella  and  didn't 
succeed.  This  reflection  caused  him  to  halt  in  his 
walk  and  look  backward  toward  the  shore.  The 

118 


A    DERELICT 

brown  roof  of  the  old  tavern  was  blushing  red  in  the 
first  rays  of  the  sun. 

A  cart,  drawn  by  a  plodding  horse  and  with  a 
single  individual  on  its  high  seat,  was  moving  out 
from  behind  the  breakwater.  Some  fisherman  driv 
ing  out  his  weir,  probably. 

The  sand  of  the  outer  bar  was  dimpled  and 
mottled  like  watered  silk  by  the  action  of  the  waves. 
It  sloped  gradually  down  to  meet  the  miniature 
breakers  that  rolled  over  and  slid  in  ripples  along 
its  edge.  Ellery  wandered  up  and  down,  picking  up 
shells  and  sea  clams,  and  peering  through  the  nets 
of  the  nearest  weir  at  the  "  horsefoot  crabs  "  and 
squid  and  flounders  imprisoned  in  the  pound.  There 
were  a  few  bluefish  there,  also,  and  a  small  school  of 
mackerel. 

The  minister  had  been  on  the  bar  a  considerable 
time  before  he  began  to  think  of  returning  to  the 
shore.  He  was  hungry,  but  was  enjoying  himself 
too  well  to  mind.  The  flats  were  all  his  that  morn 
ing.  Only  the  cart  and  its  driver  were  in  sight  and 
they  were  half  a  mile  off.  He  looked  at  his  watch, 
sighed,  and  reluctantly  started  to  walk  toward  the 
town;  he  mustn't  keep  Mrs.  Coffin's  breakfast  wait 
ing  too  long. 

The  first  channel  he  came  to  was  considerably 
deeper  than  when  he  forded  it  on  the  way  out.  He 
noticed  this,  but  only  vaguely.  The  next,  however, 
was  so  deep  that  the  water  splashed  in  at  the  top 
of  one  of  his  boots.  He  did  notice  that,  because 
though  he  was  not  wearing  his  best  clothes,  he  was 
not  anxious  to  wet  his  "  other  ones."  The  extent  of 
his  wardrobe  was  in  keeping  with  the  size  of  his 
salary, 

119 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

And  the  third  channel  was  so  wide  and  deep 
that  he  saw  at  once  it  could  not  be  forded,  unless  he 
was  willing  to  plunge  above  his  waist.  This  was 
provoking.  Now  he  realized  that  he  had  waited 
too  long.  The  tide  had  been  flowing  for  almost  an 
hour;  it  had  flowed  fast  and,  as  he  should  have  re 
membered,  having  been  told,  the  principal  channels 
were  eight  feet  deep  before  the  highest  flats  were 
covered. 

He  hurried  along  the  edge,  looking  for  a  shal 
lower  place,  but  found  none.  At  last  he  reached  the 
point  of  the  flat  he  was  on  and  saw,  to  his  dismay, 
that  here  was  the  deepest  spot  yet,  a  hole,  scoured 
out  by  a  current  like  a  mill  race.  Turning,  he  saw, 
creeping  rapidly  and  steadily  together  over  the  flat 
behind  him,  two  lines  of  foam,  one  from  each  chan 
nel.  His  retreat  was  cut  off. 

He  was  in  for  a  wetting,  that  was  sure.  How 
ever,  there  was  no  help  for  it,  so  he  waded  in.  The 
water  filled  his  boots  there,  it  gurgled  about  his 
hips,  and  beyond,  as  he  could  see,  it  seemed  to  grow 
deeper  and  deeper.  The  current  was  surprisingly 
strong;  he  found  it  difficult  to  keep  his  footing 
in  the  soft  sand.  It  looked  as  though  he  must 
swim  for  it,  and  to  swim  in  that  tide  would  be  no 
joke. 

Then,  from  behind  him,  came  a  hail.  He  turned 
and  saw  moving  toward  him  through  the  shallow 
water  now  covering  the  flat  beyond  the  next  channel, 
the  cart  he  had  seen  leave  the  shore  by  the  packet 
wharf,  and,  later,  on  the  outer  bar.  The  horse  was 
jogging  along,  miniature  geysers  spouting  beneath 
its  hoofs.  The  driver  waved  to  him. 

"  Hold   on,   mate,"    he    called.      "  Belay   there. 

I2O 


"Say/  he  cried,  'I'm  cruisin'  your  way;  better  get  aboard, 
hadn't  you?'" 


A    DERELICT 

Stay  where  you  are.  I'll  be  alongside  in  a  shake. 
Git  dap,  January!  " 

Ellery  waded  back  to  meet  this  welcome  arrival. 
The  horse  plunged  into  the  next  channel,  surged 
through  it,  and  emerged  dripping.  The  driver  pulled 
the  animal  into  a  walk. 

"  Say,"  he  cried,  "  I'm  cruisin'  your  way;  better 
get  aboard,  hadn't  you?  There's  kind  of  a  heavy 
dew  this  mornin'.  Whoa,  Bill!  " 

"  Bill  "  or  "  January  "  stopped  with  apparent 
willingness.  The  driver  leaned  down  and  extended 
a  hand.  The  minister  took  it  and  was  pulled  up  to 
the  seat. 

"  Whew !  "  he  panted.  "  I'm  much  obliged  to 
you.  I  guess  you  saved  me  from  a  ducking,  if  noth 
ing  worse." 

"  Yes,"  was  the  answer,  "  I  wouldn't  wonder  if 
I  did.  This  ain't  Saturday  night  and  'twould  be 
against  Trumet  principles  to  take  a  bath  any  other 
time.  All  taut,  are  you  ?  Good  enough  !  then  we'll 
get  under  way."  He  flapped  the  reins  and  added, 
"  G'long,  Julius  Caesar!  " 

The  horse,  a  sturdy,  sedate  beast  to  whom  all 
names  seemed  to  be  alike,  picked  up  his  feet  and 
pounded  them  down  again.  Showers  of  spray  flew 
about  the  heads  of  the  pair  on  the  seat. 

"  I  ain't  so  sure  about  that  duckin',"  commented 
the  rescuer.  "  Hum !  I  guess  likely  we'll  be  out  of 
soundin's  if  we  tackle  that  sink  hole  you  was  under- 
takin'  to  navigate.  Let's  try  it  a  little  further 
down." 

Ellery  looked  his  companion  over. 

"  Well,"  he  observed  with  a  smile,  "  from  what 
I've  heard  of  you,  Captain  Hammond,  I  rather  guess 

121 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

you  could  navigate  almost  any  water  in  this  locality 
and  in  all  sorts  of  weather." 

The  driver  turned  in  surprise. 

"  So?  "  he  exclaimed.  "  You  know  me,  do  you? 
That's  funny.  I  was  tryin'  to  locate  you,  but  I  ain't 
been  able  to.  You  ain't  a  Trumetite,  I'll  bet  on 
that." 

"  Yes,  I  am." 

"Tut!  tut!  tut!  you  don't  tell  me.  Say,  ship 
mate,  you  hurt  my  pride.  I  did  think  there  wa'n't 
a  soul  that  ever  trod  sand  in  this  village  that  I 
couldn't  name  on  sight,  and  give  the  port  they  hailed 
from  and  the  names  of  their  owners.  But  you've 
got  me  on  my  beam  ends.  And  yet  you  knew  me." 

"  Of  course  I  did.  Everybody  knows  the  man 
that  brought  the  packet  home." 

Nat  Hammond  sniffed  impatiently. 

"Urn — hm!"  he  grunted.  "I  cal'late  every 
body  does,  and  knows  a  lot  more  about  that  foolish 
ness  than  I  do  myself.  If  ever  a  craft  was  steered 
by  guess  and  by  godfrey,  'twas  that  old  hooker  of 
Zach's  t'other  night.  Well—  Humph!  here's  an 
other  piece  of  pilotin'  that  bids  fair  to  be  a  mighty 
sight  harder.  Heave  ahead,  Hannibal !  hope  you've 
got  your  web  feet  with  you." 

They  had  moved  along  the  edge  of  the  flat  a 
short  distance  and  now  turned  into  the  channel.  The 
horse  was  wading  above  its  knees;  soon  the  water 
reached  its  belly  and  began  to  flow  into  the  body 
of  the  cart. 

"  Pick  up  your  feet,  shipmate,"  commanded  Nat. 
'  You  may  get  rheumatiz  if  you  don't.  This'll  be 
a  treat  for  those  sea  clams  back  in  that  bucket 
amidships.  They'll  think  I've  repented  and  have 

122 


A    DERELICT 

decided  to  turn  'em  loose  again.  They  don't  know 
how  long  I've  been  countin'  on  a  sea-clam  pie.  I'll 
fetch  those  clams  ashore  if  I  have  to  lug  'em 
with  my  teeth.  Steady,  all  hands !  we're  off  the 
ways." 

The  cart  was  afloat.  The  horse,  finding  wading 
more  difficult  than  swimming,  began  to  swim. 

"  Now  I'm  skipper  again,  sure  enough,"  re 
marked  Hammond.  "  Ain't  gettin'  seasick,  are 
you?" 

The  minister  laughed. 

"  No,"  he  said. 

"  Good !  she  keeps  on  a  fairly  even  keel,  con- 
siderin'  her  build.  There  she  strikes !  That'll  do, 
January;  you  needn't  try  for  a  record  voyage. 
Walkin's  more  in  your  line  than  playin'  steamboat. 
We're  over  the  worst  of  it  now.  Say !  you  and  I 
didn't  head  for  port  any  too  soon,  did  we?  " 

"  No,  I  should  say  not.  I  ought  to  have  known 
better  than  to  wait  out  there  so  long.  I've  been 
warned  about  this  tide.  I— 

"  S-sh-sh !  You  ought  to  have  known  better! 
What  do  you  think  of  me?  Born  and  brought  up 
within  sight  and  smell  of  this  salt  puddle  and  let 
myself  in  for  a  scrape  like  this !  But  it  was  so  mighty 
fine  off  there  on  the  bar  I  couldn't  bear  to  leave  it.  I 
always  said  that  goin'  to  sea  on  land  would  be  the 
ideal  way,  and  now  I've  tried  it.  But  you  took 
bigger  chances  than  I  did.  Are  you  a  good  swim 
mer?" 

"  Not  too  good.  I  hardly  know  what  might 
have  happened  if  you  hadn't 

"  S-sh-sh !  that's  all  right.  Always  glad  to  pick 
up  a  derelict,  may  be  a  chance  for  salvage,  you 

123 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

know.     Here's  the  last  channel  and  it's  an  easy  one. 
There!  now  it's  plain  sailin'  for  dry  ground." 

The  old  horse,  breathing  heavily  from  his  exer 
tions,  trotted  over  the  stretch  of  yet  uncovered  flats 
and  soon  mounted  the  slope  of  the  beach.  The  min 
ister  prepared  to  alight. 

"  Captain  Hammond,"  he  said,  "  you  haven't 
asked  me  my  name." 

"  No,  I  seldom  do  more'n  once.  There  have 
been  times  when  I'd  just  as  soon  cruise  without  too 
big  letters  alongside  my  figurehead." 

"  Well,  my  name  is  Ellery." 

"  Hey  ?    What?    Oh,  ho  !  ho  !  ho  !  " 

He  rocked  back  and  forth  on  the  seat.  The 
minister's  feelings  were  a  bit  hurt,  though  he  tried 
not  to  show  it. 

"  You  mustn't  mind  my  laughin',"  explained  Nat, 
still  chuckling.  "  It  ain't  at  you.  It's  just  because 
I  was  wonderin'  what  you'd  look  like  if  I  should 
meet  you  and  now—  Ho !  ho !  You  see,  Mr.  El 
lery,  I've  heard  of  you,  same  as  you  said  you'd  heard 
of  me." 

Ellery  smiled,  but  not  too  broadly. 
'  Yes,"  he  admitted,  "  I  imagined  you  had." 
'  Yes,  seems  to  me  dad  mentioned  your  name 
once  or  twice.     As  much  as  that,  anyhow.     Wonder 
what  he'd  say  if  he  knew  his  son  had  been  takin' 
you  for  a  mornin'  ride?  " 

"  Probably  that  it  would  have  been  much  better 
to  have  left  me  where  you  found  me." 

The  captain's  jolly  face  grew  serious. 

"No,  no!  "  he  protested.  "  Not  so  bad  as  that. 
Dad  wouldn't  drown  anybody,  not  even  a  Regular 
minister.  He's  a  pretty  square-built  old  craft,  even 

124 


A    DERELICT 

though  his  spiritual  chart  may  be  laid  out  different 
from  yours — and  mine." 

"  From  yours?     Why,  I  supposed— 

"  Yes,  I  know.  Well,  when  I  go  to  meetin',  I 
generally  go  to  the  chapel  to  please  father.  But 
when  it  comes  right  down  to  a  confession  of  faith, 
I'm  pretty  broad  in  the  beam.  Maybe  I'd  be  too 
broad  even  for  you,  Mr.  Ellery." 

The  minister,  who  had  jumped  to  the  ground, 
looked  up. 

"  Captain  Hammond,"  he  said,  "  I'm  very  glad 
indeed  that  I  met  you.  Not  alone  because  you  helped 
me  out  of  a  bad  scrape;  I  realize  how  bad  it  might 
have  been  and  that— 

"  Shsh !  shh  !    Nothin'  at  all.    Don't  be  foolish." 

"  But  I'm  glad,  too,  because  I've  heard  so  many 
good  things  about  you  that  I  was  sure  you  must  be 
worth  knowing.  I  hope  you  won't  believe  I  went 
to  your  father's  meeting  with  any " 

"No,  no!  Jumpin'  Moses,  man!  /  don't  find 
fault  with  you  for  that.  I  understand,  I  guess." 

"  Well,  if  you  don't  mind  the  fact  that  I  am 
what  I  am,  I'd  like  to  shake  hands  with  you." 

Nat  reached  down  a  big  brown  hand. 

"  Same  here,"  he  said.  "  Always  glad  to  shake 
with  a  chap  as  well  recommended  as  you  are.  Yes, 
indeed,  I  mean  it.  You  see,  you've  got  a  friend  that's 
a  friend  of  mine,  and  when  she  guarantees  a  man  to 
be  A.  B.,  I'll  ship  him  without  any  more  questions." 

"  Well,  then,  good-by.  I  hope  we  shall  meet 
again  and  often.  And  I  certainly  thank  you  for — 

'  That's  all  right.  Maybe  you'll  fish  me  out  of 
the  drink  some  day;  you  never  can  tell.  So  long  I 
Git  dap,  Gen'ral  Scott!  " 

125 


He  drove  off  up  the  beach,  but  before  he  turned 
the  corner  of  the  nearest  dune  he  called  back  over 
his  shoulder: 

"  Say,  Mr.  Ellery,  if  you  think  of  it  you  might 
give  my  regards  to — to — er — the  lady  that's  keepin' 
house  for  you." 

Breakfast  had  waited  nearly  an  hour  when  the 
minister  reached  home.  Keziah,  also,  was  waiting 
and  evidently  much  relieved  at  his  safe  arrival. 

"  Sakes  alive!"  she  exclaimed,  as  she  met  him 
at  the  back  door.  "  Where  in  the  world  have  you 
been,  Mr.  Ellery?  Soakin'  wet  again,  too!  " 

Ellery  replied  that  he  had  been  for  a  walk  out 
to  the  bar.  He  sat  down  on  the  step  to  remove  the 
borrowed  boots.  A  small  rivulet  of  salt  water  poured 
from  each  as  he  pulled  them  off. 

"  For  a  walk!  A  swim,  you  mean.  How  could 
you  get  in  up  to  your  waist  if  you  just  walked?  Did 
you  fall  down?  " 

"  No,  not  exactly.  But  I  waited  too  long  and 
the  tide  headed  me  off." 

"  Mercy  on  us !  you  mustn't  take  chances  on  that 
tide.  If  you'd  told  me  you  was  goin',  I'd  have 
warned  you  to  hurry  back." 

"  Oh,  I've  been  warned  often  enough.  It  was 
my  own  fault,  as  usual.  I'm  not  sure  that  I  don't 
need  a  guardian." 

"  Humph!  well,  I  ain't  sure  either.  Was  the 
channels  very  deep?  " 

"  Deep  enough.  The  fact  is,  that  I  might  have 
got  into  serious  trouble  if  I  hadn't  been  picked  up." 

He  told  briefly  the  story  of  his  morning's  adven 
ture.  The  housekeeper  listened  with  growing  excite 
ment. 

126 


A    DERELICT 

"  Heavens  to  Betsy !  "  she  interrupted.  "  Was 
the  channel  you  planned  to  swim  the  one  at  the  end 
of  the  flat  by  the  longest  weir  leader?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  My  soul !  there's  been  two  men  drowned  in 
that  very  place  at  half  tide.  And  they  were  good 
swimmers.  After  this  I  shan't  dare  let  you  out  of 
my  sight." 

"  So?  Was  it  as  risky  as  that?  Why,  Captain 
Hammond  didn't  tell  me  so.  I  must  owe  him  more 
even  than  I  thought." 

"  Yes,  I  guess  you  do.  He  wouldn't  tell  you, 
though;  that  ain't  his  way.  Deary  me!  for  what 
we've  received  let  us  be  thankful.  And  that  reminds 
me  that  biscuits  ought  to  be  et  when  they're  first 
made,  not  after  they've  been  dried  up  on  the  back 
of  the  stove  forever  and  ever  amen.  Go  on  and 
change  those  wet  things  of  yours  and  then  we'll  eat. 
Tryin'  to  swim  the  main  channel  on  the  flood !  My 
soul  and  body !  " 

"  Captain  Nat  sent  his  regards  to  you,  Mrs. 
Coffin,"  said  the  minister,  moving  toward  the  stairs. 

"Did,  hey?"  was  the  housekeeper's  reply. 
"Want  to  know!" 


10 


CHAPTER    VIII 

IN  WHICH  THE   PARSON  AND  MR.   PEPPER  DECLARE 
THEIR    INDEPENDENCE 

THAT  afternoon,  when  dinner  was  over,  the 
Reverend  John  decided  to  make  a  few  duty 
calls.  The  first  of  these  he  determined 
should  be  on  the  Peppers.  Lavinia  and  her  brother 
had  called  at  the  parsonage  several  times,  but  as  yet 
he  had  not  paid  them  a  visit.  It  was  not  a  ceremony 
to  which  he  looked  forward  with  delight,  but  it  must 
be  performed.  Miss  Pepper  had  hinted  several 
times,  at  sewing  circle  and  after  prayer  meeting, 
of  "  partiality  "  and  "  only  stoppin'  in  where  they 
had  fancy  curtains  up  to  the  windows."  So,  as  it 
could  not  be  put  off  longer,  without  causing  trouble, 
he  determined  to  go  through  with  it. 

The  Pepper  house  was  situated  just  off  the  main 
road  on  the  lane  leading  over  the  dunes  to  the  ocean 
and  the  light.  It  was  a  small  building,  its  white 
paint  dingy  and  storm  beaten,  and  its  little  fenced-in 
front  yard  dotted  thickly  with  clumps  of  silver-leaf 
saplings.  A  sign,  nailed  .crookedly  on  a  post,  in 
formed  those  seeking  such  information  that  within 
was  to  be  found  "  Abishai  G.  W.  Pepper,  Tax 
Collector,  Assessor,  Boots  and  Shoes  Repaired." 
And  beneath  this  was  fastened  a  shingle  with  the 
chalked  notice,  "  Salt  Hay  for  sale." 

128 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

The  boot  and  shoe  portion  of  the  first  sign  was 
a  relic  of  other  days.  Kyan  had  been  a  cobbler  once, 
but  it  is  discouraging  to  wait  three  or  four  weeks 
while  the  pair  of  boots  one  has  left  to  be  resoled  are 
forgotten  in  a  corner.  Captain  Zeb  Mayo's  pointed 
comment,  "  I  want  my  shoe  leather  to  wear  while 
I'm  alive,  not  to  be  laid  out  in  after  I  die  of  old 
age,"  expressed  the  general  feeling  of  the  village 
and  explained  why  custom  had  left  Mr.  Pepper  and 
flown  to  the  more  enterprising  shoemaker  at  "  The 
Corners."  The  tax  collectorship  might  have  fol 
lowed  it,  but  here  Lavinia  kept  her  brother  up  to 
the  mark.  She  went  with  him  on  his  rounds  and  it 
gave  her  opportunity  to  visit,  and  afterwards  com 
ment  upon,  every  family  in  town. 

The  minister  walked  up  the  dusty  lane,  lifted 
the  Pepper  gate  and  swung  it  back  on  its  one  hinge, 
shooed  away  the  three  or  four  languid  and  discour 
aged-looking  fowls  that  were  taking  a  sun  bath  on 
the  clam-shell  walk,  and  knocked  at  the  front  door. 
No  one  coming  in  answer  to  the  knock,  he  tried  again. 
Then  he  discovered  a  rusty  bell  pull  and  gave  it  a 
sharp  tug.  The  knob  came  off  in  his  hand  and  he 
hurriedly  thrust  it  back  again  into  its  place.  Evi 
dently,  that  bell  wras  solely  for  ornament. 

He  came  to  the  conclusion  that  no  one  was  at 
home  and  felt  a  guilty  sense  of  relief  in  consequence. 
But  his  conscience  would  not  let  him  depart  without 
another  try,  so  he  clenched  his  fist  and  gave  the 
cracked  door  panel  a  series  of  tremendous  thumps. 
A  thin  black  cat,  which  had  evidently  been  asleep 
beneath  the  step,  burst  from  its  concealment  and 
fled  in  frantic  terror.  Then  from  somewhere  in  the 
rear  of  the  house  came  the  sound  of  a  human  voice. 

129 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Hi !  "  it  called  faintly.  "  Whoever  you  be, 
don't  bust  that  door  down.  Come  round  here." 

Ellery  walked  around  the  corner  of  the  building. 
The  voice  came  again. 

"  Say!  "  it  wailed,  "  why  don't  you  answer?  Be 
you  comin'?  If  you're  a  peddler,  you  needn't." 

"  I'm  not  a  peddler,"  was  the  minister's  amused 
reply. 

"Oh,  ain't  ye?     All  right.     Come  along,  then." 

Ellery  "  came  along  "  as  far  as  the  angle  where 
the  ell  joined  the  main  body  of  the  house.  So  far 
as  he  could  see  every  door  and  window  was  closed 
and  there  were  no  signs  of  life.  However,  he  stepped 
to  the  door,  a  green-painted  affair  of  boards,  and 
ventured  another  knock. 

"Don't  start  that  poundin'  again!"  protested 
the  voice.  "  Come  round  to  t'other  side  where  I 
be." 

So  around  went  the  Reverend  John,  smiling 
broadly.  But  even  on  "  t'other  side  "  there  was  no 
one  to  be  seen.  And  no  door,  for  that  matter. 

"Why!"  exclaimed  the  voice,  "if  'tain't 
Mr.  Ellery!  How  d'ye  do?  Glad  to  see  you,  Mr. 
Ellery.  Fine  day,  ain't  it?  Here  I  be  at  this  win 
dow." 

Sure  enough;  one  of  the  windows  on  this  side  of 
the  house  was  raised  about  six  inches  at  the  bottom, 
the  shade  was  up,  and  peering  beneath  the  sash  the 
minister  discerned  the  expressive  features  of  Abishai 
Pepper — or  as  much  of  those  features  as  the  size  of 
the  opening  permitted  to  be  seen. 

"  Oh!  "  exclaimed  the  visitor,  "  is  that  you,  Mr. 
Pepper?  Well,  I'm  glad  to  see  you,  at  last.  You 
are  rather  hard  to  see,  even  now." 

130 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

Kyan  was  plainly  embarrassed.  He  stammered 
as  he  answered. 

'  Yes,"  he  agreed,  "  I — I  shouldn't  wonder  if  I 
be.  How  be  you?  Pretty  smart?" 

"  Yes,  thank  you.     I'm  well." 

"  Er — er — come  to  call,  did  you?  " 

'  Why,  yes,  that  was  my  intention." 

"  Hum  !  Er — er — Laviny,  she's  gone  over  to 
Thankful  Payne's.  She  heard  that  Thankful's 
cousin  up  to  Middleboro  had  died — passed  away,  I 
mean — and  she  thought  she'd  run  over  and  find  out 
if  Thankful  was  willed  anything.  She  said  she'd  be 
back  pretty  soon." 

'  Very  well.  Then,  as  she  won't  be  gone  long, 
perhaps  I'll  come  in  and  wait." 

He  was  moving  away  toward  the  corner  when  a 
shout  from  beneath  the  window  sash  brought  him  to 
a  halt. 

"  Hi !  "  called  Abishai.  "  Hi,  Mr.  Ellery !  don't 
go  to  that  door.  'Tain't  no  use;  it's  locked." 

"  Locked?    Well,  you  can  unlock  it,  can't  you?  " 

"  No,  not  very  well.  That  is,  I — Mr.  Ellery, 
come  back  here,  won't  ye?  I  don't  want  anybody  to 
hear." 

The  house  of  the  nearest  neighbor  being  several 
hundred  yards  away,  the  likelihood  of  being  over 
heard  was  improbable;  but  the  minister  came  back, 
nevertheless. 

"  You  see,  Mr.  Ellery,"  stammered  Kyan,  "  I— 
I'd  like  to  have  you  come  in  fust  rate,  but — er — 
Laviny  she's  got  the  key." 

Ellery  was  surprised. 

"  She  has!"  he  exclaimed. 

"  Um — hm,  she's  got  it.     She  took  it  with  her." 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  But  there  are  other  doors.  She  didn't  take 
them  all,  did  she?  " 

"  No — o,  but—  Well,  the  fact  is,  Mr.  Ellery, 
I— I— I'm  locked  in." 

"Locked  in?" 

"  Yes,  locked  in  this  room.  She — she—  Oh, 
consarn  it  all,  Mr.  Ellery,  she's  locked  me  in  this 
room  a-purpose,  so's  I  won't  get  out  and  go  some- 
wheres  without  her  knowin'  it." 

"What?" 

"Urn — h'm;  that's  what  she's  done.  Did  you 
ever  hear  of  anything  like  that  in  your  born  days?  " 

This  surprising  disclosure  was  funny  enough,  but 
the  tone  of  grieved  indignation  in  which  Mr.  Pepper 
told  of  his  imprisonment  was  funnier  still.  The 
minister  coughed  violently  and  looked  the  other 
way. 

"  She  done  it  a-purpose,"  continued  Kyan,  in  a 
burst  of  confidence.  "  She  had  me  put  one  of  them 
new-fangled  spring  locks  on  the  door  of  this  room 
t'other  day,  'cause  she  said  she  was  afraid  of  tramps 
and  wanted  some  place  to  shut  herself  up  in  if  one  of 
'em  come.  And — and  after  dinner  to-day  she  sent 
me  in  here  for  somethin'  and  then  slammed  the  door 
on  me.  Said  she  cal'lated  I'd  stay  put  till  she  got 
back  from  Thankful's.  She  knew  mighty  well  I 
couldn't  get  out  of  the  window,  'cause  it  won't  open 
no  further'n  'tis  now.  I  wa'n't  never  so  provoked 
in  my  life.  'Tain't  no  way  to  treat  your  own 
brother,  lockin'  him  up  like  a  young  one;  now,  is 
it?" 

Ellery's  reply  was  not  made  immediately.  He 
had  heard  numerous  stories  concerning  this  odd 
household,  some  of  which  seemed  too  absurd  for 

132 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

belief.     But  this  performance  was  more  ridiculous 
than  anything  he  had  heard. 

"'Tain't  right,  is  it,  Mr.  Ellery?"  demanded 
Kyan. 

"  Why,"   answered  the  caller  chokingly,   "  I — I 
—it  is  rather  unusual,  that's  a  fact.     May  I  ask  what 
you've  done  to — 

"  Done?  I  ain't  done  nothin'.  She's  so  darned 
scared  some  other  woman'll  get  my  money  that— 
you  see,  a  month  or  so  ago  I — I — well,  she  thought 
I  done  somethin',  or  wras  plannin'  to  do  somethin' 
that—  Keziah  Coffin  never  told  you  anything  about 
me,  did  she?  " 

"  No,  indeed.  What  could  Mrs.  Coffin  tell  me 
about  you  ?  " 

"  All  right.  Nothin',  nothin'.  Only  if  she  did, 
'tain't  so.  But  I  ain't  goin'  to  stand  it  no  more,  Mr. 
Ellery.  Bein'  shut  up  in  a  darned  old — excuse  my 
swearin',  I  didn't  mean  to,  though  I  got  reason 
enough,  land  knows — bein'  shut  up  in  a  room  full 
of  trunks  and  odds  and  ends  is  goin'  too  fur.  I 
never  want  to  smell  old  clothes  ag'in  long's  I  live. 
Would  you  stand  it  if  you  was  me,  Mr.  Ellery?  " 

"  Why,  of  course  I  mustn't  interfere  in  your 
family  matters,  Mr.  Pepper.  Perhaps  I'd  better  call 
some  other  time.  Good  afternoon." 

"  Hold  on!  hold  on!  you  ain't  answered  me  yet. 
You're  a  minister  and  I  go  to  your  meetin'  house. 
Tell  me  what  you'd  do  if  you  was  me.  Would,  you 
stand  it?  " 

Ellery  laughed  aloud. 

"  No,"  he  said,  "  I  suppose  I  shouldn't." 

"  I  bet  you  wouldn't!     What  would  you  do?  " 

"  I  don't  know.    You're  of  age,  Mr.  Pepper,  and 
133 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

you  must  decide  for  yourself.  I  think  I  should  de 
clare  my  independence.  Really,  I  must  go.  I— 

"  Don't  be  in  such  a  hurry.  I  want  advice.  I 
need  it.  And,  so  fur's  declarin'  goes,  that  don't  do 
me  no  good.  She  can  declare  more  things  in  a  min 
ute  than  I  can  think  of  in  a  week.  Tongue !  I 
never  heard—  No,  no !  Never  mind  the  declarin'. 
What  would  you  do?  S'posin'  you  wanted  to  go 
outdoor  without  havin'  her  tagged  to  your  coat 
tails,  how'd  you  stop  the  taggin'  ?  " 

The  absurdity  of  the  affair  was  too  much  for 
the  visitor.  He  roared  a  "  Ha,  ha !  "  that  caused 
Abishai  to  wave  a  warning  hand  beneath  the  sash. 

"  Ss-h-h!  sshh!  "  he  hissed.  "  Folks'll  hear  ye, 
and  I'd  be  so  ashamed  if  they  did  that  I  wouldn't 
dast  to  show  my  head.  Can't  show  much  of  it,  any 
how,  just  now.  By  gum!  I'll  do  somethin'  desper 
ate.  I — I  dunno  as  I  won't  pizen  her.  I— 

"  Hush !  hush !  you  mustn't  talk  that  way.  I'm 
afraid  you  must  be  very  fascinating,  Mr.  Pepper. 
If  your  sister  is  so  very  fearful  of  your  meeting 
other  women,  it  must  be  because  she  has  good  reason 
to  fear." 

"  Stop  your  foolishness !  Oh  ! — I — I  ask  your 
pardon,  Mr.  Ellery.  That  ain't  no  way  to  talk  to  a 
minister.  But  I'm  goin'  to  go  out  when  I  want  to  if 
I  bust  a  hole  through  the  clapboards.  I  ain't  fas- 
cinatin'.  You  ask  any  woman — except  her — if  I  be, 
and  see  what  they  say.  What'll  I  do?  " 

"  Ha,  ha !  I  don't  know,  I'm  sure.  You  might 
lock  her  up,  I  suppose,  just  for  a  change. 

"Hey!"  There  was  a  sound  from  behind  the 
pane  as  if  the  imprisoned  one  had  slapped  his  knee. 
"  By  gum  !  I  never  thought  of  that.  Would  you  now, 

134 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

Mr.  Ellery?  Would  you?  Sshh  !  sshh  !  somebody's 
comin'.  Maybe  it's  her.  Run  around  to  the  door, 
Mr.  Ellery,  quick.  And  don't  tell  her  I've  seen  you, 
for  mercy  sakes !  Don't  now,  will  ye  ?  Please ! 
Run !  " 

The  minister  did  not  run,  but  he  walked  briskly 
around  the  corner.  Sure  enough,  Lavinia  was  there, 
just  unlocking  the  door.  She  expressed  herself  as 
very  glad  to  see  the  caller,  ushered  him  into  the  sit 
ting  room  and  disappeared,  returning  in  another 
moment  with  her  brother,  whom  she  unblushingly 
said  had  been  taking  a  nap.  Abishai  did  not  con 
tradict  her;  instead,  he  merely  looked  apprehensively 
at  the  minister. 

The  call  was  a  short  one.  Lavinia  did  seven 
eighths  of  the  talking  and  Ellery  the  rest.  Kyan 
was  silent.  When  the  visit  was  over,  Miss  Pepper 
escorted  her  guest  to  the  door  and  bade  him  a  vol 
uble  good-by.  Over  her  shoulder  the  minister  saw 
Kyan  making  frantic  signs  to  him;  he  interpreted 
the  signals  as  a  request  for  secrecy  concerning  the 
interview  by  the  window. 

Several  times  during  the  remainder  of  that  week 
he  surprised  his  housekeeper  by  suddenly  laughing 
aloud  when  there  was,  apparently,  nothing  to  laugh 
at.  He  explained  these  outbursts  by  saying  that  he 
had  thought  of  something  funny.  Keziah  suggested 
that  it  must  be  mighty  funny  to  make  him  laugh  in 
the  middle  of  sermon  writing. 

"  I've  heard  sermons  that  were  funny,"  she  said, 
"though  they  wasn't  intended  to  be;  but  what  I've 
heard  of  yours  ain't  that  kind.  I  wish  you'd  let  me 
in  on  the  joke.  I  haven't  been  feelin'  like  laughin' 
for  the  last  fortni't." 

135 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

She  had  been  rather  grave  and  preoccupied,  for 
her,  of  late.  Bustling  and  busy  she  always  was, 
never  sitting  down  to  "  rest,"  as  she  called  it,  with 
out  a  lap  full  of  sewing.  The  minister's  clothes 
were  mended  and  his  socks  darned  as  they  had  not 
been  since  his  mother's  day.  And  with  him,  at 
meal  times,  or  after  supper  in  the  sitting  room,  she 
was  always  cheerful  and  good-humored.  But  he 
had  heard  her  sigh  at  her  work,  and  once,  when  she 
thought  herself  unobserved,  he  saw  her  wipe  her 
eyes  with  her  apron. 

"  No,  no,"  she  protested,  when  he  asked  if  any 
thing  had  gone  wrong.  ''  I'm  all  right.  Got  a 
little  cold  or  somethin',  I  guess,  that's  all." 

She  would  not  give  any  other  explanation  and 
absolutely  refused  to  see  the  doctor.  Ellery  did  not 
press  the  matter.  He  believed  the  "  cold  "  to  be  but 
an  excuse  and  wondered  what  the  real  trouble  might 
be.  It  seemed  to  him  to  date  from  the  evening  of 
his  chapel  experience. 

He  told  no  one,  not  even  her,  of  Kyan's  con 
fidential  disclosure,  and,  after  some  speculation  as  to 
whether  or  not  there  might  be  a  sequel,  put  the  whole 
ludicrous  affair  out  of  his  mind.  He  worked  hard 
in  his  study  and  at  his  pastoral  duties,  and  was  con 
scious  of  a  pleasant  feeling  that  he  was  gaining  his 
people's  confidence  and  esteem. 

A  week  from  the  following  Sunday  he  dined  in 
state  at  the  Daniels's  table.  Captain  Elkanah  was 
gracious  and  condescending.  Annabel  was  more 
than  that.  She  was  dressed  in  her  newest  gown 
and  was  so  very  gushing  and  affable  that  the  min 
ister  felt  rather  embarrassed.  When,  after  the  meal 
was  over,  Captain  Elkanah  excused  himself  and  went 

136 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

upstairs  for  his  Sabbath  nap,  the  embarrassment 
redoubled.  Miss  Annabel  spoke  very  confidentially 
of  her  loneliness,  without  "  congenial  society,"  of 
how  very  much  she  did  enjoy  Mr.  Ellery's  intellec 
tual  sermons,  and  especially  what  a  treat  it  had  been 
to  have  him  as  a  guest. 

'  You  must  dine  here  every  Sunday,"  she  said. 
"  It  will  be  no  trouble  at  all,  and  if  you  say  no,  I 
shall  feel  that  it  is  because  you  don't  want  to  see 
me — father  and  me,  of  course,  I  mean." 

The  minister  didn't  accept  this  pressing  invita 
tion;  on  the  other  hand,  he  could  not  refuse  it  abso 
lutely.  He  did  not  like  Miss  Daniels  overmuch,  but 
she  was  the  daughter  of  his  leading  parishioner  and 
she  and  her  parent  did  seem  to  like  him.  So  he 
dodged  the  issue  and  said  she  was  very  kind. 

He  left  the  big  house  as  soon  as  he  could  with 
out  giving  offense,  and  started  back  toward  the  par 
sonage.  But  the  afternoon  was  so  fine  and  the  early 
summer  air  so  delightful  that  he  changed  his  mind 
and,  jumping  the  fence  at  the  foot  of  Cannon  Hill, 
set  off  across  the  fields  toward  the  bluffs  and  the  bay 
shore. 

The  sun  was  low  in  the  west  as  he  entered  the 
grove  of  pines  on  the  bluff.  The  red  light  between 
the  boughs  made  brilliant  carpet  pattern's  on  the 
thick  pine  needles  and  the  smell  was  balsamy  and 
sweet.  Between  the  tree  trunks  he  caught  glimpses 
of  the  flats,  now  partially  covered,  and  they  reminded 
him  of  his  narrow  escape  and  of  Nat  Hammond, 
his  rescuer.  He  had  met  the  captain  twice  since  then, 
once  at  the  store  and  again  on  the  main  road,  and 
had  chatted  with  him.  He  liked  him  immensely  and 
wished  he  might  count  him  as  an  intimate  friend. 

137 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

But  intimacy  between  a  Regular  clergyman  and  the 
son  of  the  leader  of  the  Come-Outers  was  out  of 
the  question.  Partisans  on  both  sides  would  shriek 
at  the  idea. 

Thinking  of  the  Hammond  family  reminded  him 
of  another  member  of  it.  Not  that  he  needed  to  be 
reminded;  he  had  thought  of  her  often  enough  since 
she  ran  away  from  him  in  the  rain  that  night.  And 
the  picture  in  the  doorway  was  not  one  that  he  could 
forget — or  wanted  to.  If  she  were  not  a  Come- 
Outer,  he  could  meet  her  occasionally  and  they  might 
become  friends.  She  was  a  disconcerting  young  per 
son,  who  lacked  proper  respect  for  one  of  his  pro 
fession  and  laughed  when  she  shouldn't — but  she 
was  interesting,  he  admitted  that. 

And  then  he  saw  her.  She  was  standing  just  at 
the  outer  edge  of  the  grove,  leaning  against  a  tree 
and  looking  toward  the  sunset.  She  wore  a  simple 
white  dress  and  her  hat  hung  upon  her  shoulders 
by  its  ribbons.  The  rosy  light  edged  the  white  gown 
with  pink  and  the  fringes  of  her  dark  hair  were 
crinkly  lines  of  fire.  Her  face  was  grave,  almost 
sad. 

John  Ellery  stood  still,  with  one  foot  uplifted  for 
a  step.  The  girl  looked  out  over  the  water  and  he 
looked  at  her.  Then  a  crow,  one  of  several  whirling 
above  the  pines,  spied  the  intruder  and  screamed  a 
warning.  The  minister  was  startled  and  stepped 
back.  A  dead  limb  beneath  his  foot  cracked  sharply. 
Grace  turned  and  saw  him. 

"Oh!"  she  cried.     "Who  is  it?" 

Ellery  emerged  from  the  shadow. 

"  Don't  be  frightened,  Miss  Van  Home,"  he 
said.  "  It  is— er— I." 

138 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

This  statement  was  neither  brilliant  nor  original; 
even  as  an  identification  it  lacked  considerable. 

"I?"  repeated  the  girl.  "Who?  Oh! 
Why " 

The  minister  came  forward. 

"  Good  afternoon,  Miss  Van  Home,"  he  stam 
mered.  "  I'm  afraid  I  frightened  you." 

She  was  looking  at  him  with  a  queer  expression, 
almost  as  if  she  scarcely  believed  him  real. 

"  I  hope—  '  he  began  again.  She  interrupted 
him. 

"  No,"  she  said  confusedly,  "  you  didn't  frighten 
me.  I  was  a  little  startled  when  I  saw  you  there  be 
hind  me.  It  seemed  so  odd,  because  I  was  just  think 
ing —  No,  I  wasn't  frightened.  What  is  there  to 
be  frightened  of — in  Trumet?" 

He  had  extended  his  hand,  but  partially  withdrew 
it,  not  sure  how  even  such  a  perfunctory  act  of  friend 
liness  might  be  received.  She  saved  him  embarrass 
ment  by  frankly  offering  her  own. 

"  Not  much,  that's  a  fact,"  he  said,  in  answer 
to  her  question.  He  would  have  liked  to  ask  what 
she  had  been  thinking  that  made  his  sudden  appear 
ance  seem  so  odd. 

'You  came  to  see  the  sunset,  I  suppose?"  she 
said  hurriedly,  as  if  to  head  off  a  question.  "  So  did 
I.  It  is  a  beautiful  evening  for  a  walk,  isn't  it?  " 

She  had  said  precisely  the  same  thing  on  that 
other  evening,  when  they  stood  in  the  middle  of 
"  Hammond's  Turn-off  "  in  the  driving  rain.  He 
remembered  it,  and  so,  evidently,  did  she,  for  she 
colored  slightly  and  smiled. 

"  I  mean  it  this  time,"  she  said.  "  I'm  glad  you 
didn't  get  cold  from  your  wetting  the  other  day." 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

'"  Oh !  I  wasn't  very  wet.  You  wouldn't  let  me 
lend  you  the  umbrella,  so  I  had  that  to  protect  me 
on  the  way  home." 

"Not  then;  I  meant  the  other  morning  when 
Nat — Cap'n  Hammond — met  you  out  on  the  flats. 
He  said  you  were  wading  the  main  channel  and  it 
was  over  your  boots." 

"Over  my  boots!  Is  that  all  he  said?  Over 
my  head  would  be  the  plain  truth.  To  cross  it  I 
should  have  had  to  swim  and,  if  what  I've  heard 
since  is  true,  I  doubt  if  I  could  swim  that  channel. 
Captain  Hammond  helped  me  out  of  a  bad  scrape." 

"  Oh,  no !  I  guess  not.  He  said  you  were  cruis 
ing  without  a  pilot  and  he  towed  you  into  port;  that's 
the  way  he  expressed  it." 

"  It  was  worse  than  that,  a  good  deal  worse.  It 
might  have  been  my  last  cruise.  I'm  pretty  certain 
that  I  owe  the  captain  my  life." 

She  looked  at  him  uncomprehendingly. 

"Your  life?"  she  repeated. 

"  I  believe  it.  That  part  of  the  channel  I  pro 
posed  swimming  was  exactly  where  two  men  have 
been  drowned,  so  people  say.  I'm  not  a  very  strong 
swimmer,  and  they  were.  So,  you  see." 

Grace  cried  out  in  astonishment. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  exclaimed.  Then  pointing  toward 
the  bay,  she  asked:  "  Out  there,  by  the  end  of  that 
leader,  was  it?  " 

"  Yes,  that  was  it." 

She  drew  a  long  breath.     Then,  after  a  moment: 

"And  Nat  spoke  as  if  it  was  all  a  joke,"  she 
said. 

"  No  doubt  he  did.  From  what  I  hear  of  your 
brother,  he  generally  refers  to  his  own  plucky,  capa- 

140 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

ble  actions  as  jokes.     Other  people  call  them  some 
thing  else." 

She  did  not  answer,  but  continued  to  gaze  at 
the  half-submerged  "  leader,"  with  the  pine  bough 
tied  at  its  landward  end  to  mark  the  edge  of  deep 
water,  and  the  tide  foaming  through  its  lath 
gratings. 

"  Your  brother —  '  went  on  the  minister. 

"  He  isn't  my  brother,"  she  interrupted  absently. 
"  I  wish  he  was." 

She  sighed  as  she  uttered  the  last  sentence. 

"  No,  of  course  he  isn't  your  real  brother;  I 
forgot.  But  he  must  seem  like  one." 

"  Yes,"  rather  doubtfully. 

'  You  must  be  proud  of  him." 

"  I  am."     There  was  nothing  doubtful  this  time. 

"  Well,  he  saved  me  from  drowning.  I'm 
almost  certain  of  that." 

"  I'm  so  glad." 

She  seemed  to  mean  it.     He  looked  at  her. 

"  Thank  you,"  he  said  drily.  "  I'm  rather  glad 
myself." 

"Oh!  I  didn't  mean  it  exactly  that  way.  Of 
course  I'm  glad  you  weren't  drowned,  but  I'm  espe 
cially  glad  that — that  one  of  our  family  saved  you. 
Now  you  won't  believe  that  Come-Outers  are  all 
bad." 

"  I  never  believed  it." 

She  shook  her  head. 

•   "Oh,    yes,    you    did,"    she    affirmed    stubbornly. 
'  You've  heard  nothing  good  of  us  since  you  came 
here.     Don't  tell  fibs,  Mr.  Ellery." 

"  But  I  assure  you — 

"  Nonsense !      Does — well,   does   Cap'n   Daniels, 
141 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

or  his  daughter,  say  anything  good  of  us?     Be  hon 
est,  do  they?  " 

"  I  hardly  think — that  is,  I  shouldn't  call  their 
opinions  unprejudiced.  And,  Miss  Van  Home,  per 
haps  the  prejudice  isn't  all  on  one  side.  What  did 
your  uncle  say  about  Cap'n  Nat's  meeting  me  the 
other  day?  " 

"  Uncle  Eben  doesn't  know.  Nat  didn't  tell 
anyone  but  me.  He  doesn't  boast.  And  uncle 
would  be  glad  he  helped  you.  As  I  told  you  before, 
Mr.  Ellery,  I'm  not  ashamed  of  my  uncle.  He  has 
been  so  good  to  me  that  I  never  can  repay  him, 
never !  When  my  own  father  was  drowned  he  took 
me  in,  a  little  orphan  that  would  probably  have  been 
sent  to  a  home,  and  no  father  could  be  kinder  or 
more  indulgent  than  he  has  been.  Anything  I  asked 
for  I  got,  and  at  last  I  learned  not  to  ask  for  too 
much.  No  self-denial  on  his  part  was  too  great,  if 
he  could  please  me.  When  he  needed  money  most 
he  said  nothing  to  me,  but  insisted  that  I  should  be 
educated.  I  didn't  know  until  afterwards  of  the  self- 
sacrifice  my  four  years  at  the  Middleboro  Academy 
meant  to  him." 

The  minister  had  listened  eagerly  to  this  defense 
of  the  man  whom  he  had  been  led  to  consider  his 
arch  enemy.  It  was  given  with  spirit  and  the  girl's 
head  was  uplifted  and  her  eyes  flashed  as  she  spoke. 
Ellery's  next  remark  was  uttered  without  premedi 
tation.  Really,  he  was  thinking  aloud. 

"So    you    went   away   to    school?"    he    mused. 

'  That  is  why " 

'  That  is  why  I  don't  say  '  never  done  nothin'  ' 
and  '  be  you  '  and  '  hain't  neither.'  Yes,  thank  you, 
that's  why.  I  don't  wonder  you  were  surprised." 

142 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

The  young  man  blushed. 

"  You  misunderstand  me,"  he  protested.  "  I 
didn't  mean— 

"  Oh  !  yes,  you  did.  Not  precisely  that,  perhaps, 
but  pretty  near  it.  I  suppose  you  expected  me  to 
speak  like  Josiah  Badger  or  Kyan  Pepper.  I  try 
not  to.  And  I  try  not  to  say  '  immejitly,'  too,"  she 
added,  with  a  mischievous  twinkle. 

Ellery  recognized  the  "  immejitly "  quotation 
and  laughed. 

"  I  never  heard  but  one  person  say  that,"  he 
observed.  "  And  he  isn't  a  Come-Outer." 

"  No,  he  isn't.  Well,  this  lesson  in  English 
can't  be  very  interesting  to  you,  Mr.  Ellery,  and  I 
must  go.  But  I'm  very  glad  Nat  helped  you  the 
other  day  and  that  you  realize  the  sort  of  man 
he  is.  And  I'm  glad  I  have  had  the  opportunity 
to  tell  you  more  about  Uncle  Eben.  I  owe  him  so 
much  that  I  ought  to  be  glad — yes,  glad  and  proud 
and  happy,  too,  to  gratify  his  least  wish.  I  must! 
I  know  I  must,  no  matter  how  I —  What  am  I 
talking  about?  Yes,  Mr.  Ellery,  I'm  glad  if  I  have 
helped  you  to  understand  my  uncle  better  and  why 
I  love  and  respect  him.  If  you  knew  him  as  I  do, 
you  would  respect  him,  too.  Good-by." 

She  was  going,  but  the  minister  had  something  to 
say.  He  stepped  forward  and  walked  beside  her. 

"  Just  a  minute,  please,"  he  urged.  "  Miss  Van 
Home,  I  do  understand.  I  do  respect  your  uncle. 
We  have  a  mutual  friend,  you  and  I,  and  through 
her  I  have  come  to  understand  many  things." 

Grace  turned  and  looked  at  him. 

"A  mutual  friend?"  she  repeated.  "Oh!  I 
know.  Mrs.  Coffin?" 

11  143 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"Yes;  Mrs.  Coffin.  She's  a  good  woman  and  a 
wise  one." 

"  She's  a  dear!     Do  you  like  her,  too?  " 

"  Indeed,  I  do." 

"  Has  she  told  you  about  me — about  uncle,  I 
mean?  " 

"  Yes.     Why,  she  told  me- 

He  began  to  enumerate  some  of  the  things  Ke- 
ziah  had  told  concerning  the  Hammond  family. 
They  were  all  good  things,  and  he  couldn't  help 
seeing  that  the  recital  pleased  her.  So  he  went  on 
to  tell  how  his  housekeeper  had  helped  him,  of  her 
advice,  of  her  many  acts  of  kindness,  of  what  he 
owed  to  her.  The  girl  listened  eagerly,  asking 
questions,  nodding  confirmation,  and,  in  her  delight 
at  hearing  Keziah  praised,  quite  forgetting  her 
previous  eagerness  to  end  the  interview.  And,  as  he 
talked,  he  looked  at  her,  at  the  red  light  on  her  hair, 
the  shine  of  her  eyes,  like  phosphorus  in  the  curl 
of  a  wave  at  night,  at  her  long  lashes,  and— 

"  Yes,"  said  Miss  Van  Home,  "  you  were  say- 
ing- 

The  minister  awoke  with  a  guilty  start.  He  re 
alized  that  his  sentence  had  broken  off  in  the  middle. 

"  Why!  why — er — yes,"  he  stammered.  "  I  was 
saying  that  —  that  I  don't  know  what  I  should 
have  done  without  Mrs.  Coffin.  She's  a  treasure. 
Frankly,  she  is  the  only  real  friend  I  have  found  in 
Trumet." 

;'  I  know.  I  feel  the  same  way  about  her.  She 
means  so  much  to  me.  I  love  her  more  than  anyone 
else  in  the  world,  except  uncle,  of  course — and  Nat. 
I  miss  her  very  much  since — since — 

"  Since  I  came,  you  mean.     I'm  sorry.     I  wish— 
144 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

I  hate  to  think  I  am  the  cause  which  separates  you 
two.  It  isn't  my  fault,  as  you  know." 

"  Oh  !     I  know  that." 

"  Yes,  and  I  object  to  having  others  choose  my 
friends  for  me,  people  who,  because  of  a  fanatical 
prejudice,  stand  in  the  way  of—  If  it  wasn't  for 
that,  you  might  call  and  see  Mrs.  Coffin,  just  as  you 
used  to  do." 

Grace  shook  her  head.  They  had  moved  on  to 
the  bend  of  the  bluff,  beyond  the  fringe  of  pines, 
and  were  now  standing  at  the  very  edge  of  the  high 
bank. 

"  If  it  wasn't  for  that,  you  would  come,"  asserted 
the  minister. 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so.  I  should  like  to  come.  I 
miss  my  talks  with  Aunt  Keziah  more  than  you  can 
imagine — now  especially.  But,  somehow,  what  we 
want  to  do  most  seems  to  be  what  we  mustn't,  and 
what  we  don't  like  is  our  duty." 

She  said  this  without  looking  at  him,  and  the  ex 
pression  on  her  face  was  the  same  sad,  grave  one  he 
had  noticed  when  he  first  saw  her  standing  alone  by 
the  pine. 

"  Why  don't  you  come?  "  he  persisted. 

"  I  can't,  of  course.     You  know  I  can't." 

"Why  not?     If  my  company  is  objectionable  I 

can  go  away  when  you  come.  If  you  dislike  me 
I » 

"  You  know  I  don't  dislike  you  personally." 

"  I'm  awfully  glad  of  that."' 

"  But  it's  impossible.  Uncle  respects  and  is  fond 
of  Aunt  Keziah,  but  he  wouldn't  hear  of  my  visiting 
the  parsonage." 

"  But  don't  you  think  your  uncle  might  be  per- 

145 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

suaded?  I'm  sure  he  misunderstands  me,  just  as  I 
should  him  if  it  weren't  for  Mrs.  Coffin — and  what 
you've  said.  Don't  you  think  if  I  called  on  him  and 
he  knew  me  better  it  might  help  matters?  I'll  do  it 
gladly/,  I  will!" 

"  No,  no.  He  wouldn't  listen.  And  think  of 
your  own  congregation." 

"  Confound  my  congregation  !  " 

"\j\0iy,  Mr.  Ellery!" 

She  looked  at  him  in  amazement;  then  her  lips 
began  to  curl. 

"  Why,  Mr.  Ellery !  "  she  repeated. 

The  minister  turned  very  red  and  drew  his  hand 
across  his  forehead. 

"  I — I  don't  mean  that  exactly,"  he  stammered. 
"  But  I'm  not  a  child.  I  have  the  right  to  exercise  a 
man's  discretion.  My  parish  committee  must  under 
stand  that.  They  shall!  If  I  choose  to  see  you — 
Look  out!  " 

She  was  close  to  the  overhanging  edge  of  the 
bluff  and  the  sod  upon  which  she  stood  was  bending 
beneath  her  feet.  He  sprang  forward,  caught  her 
about  the  waist,  and  pulled  her  back.  The  sod  broke 
and  rattled  down  the  sandy  slope.  She  would  have 
had  a  slight  tumble,  nothing  worse,  had  she  gone 
with  it.  There  was  no  danger;  and  yet  the  minister 
was  very  white  as  he  released  her. 

She,  too,  was  pale  for  a  moment,  and  then 
crimson. 

"  Thank  you,"  she  gasped.  "  I — I  must  go.  It 
is  late.  I  didn't  realize  how  late  it  was.  I — I  must 
go." 

He  did  not  answer,  though  he  tried  to. 

''  I  must  go,"  she  said  hurriedly,  speaking  at  ran- 
146 


THE    PARSON    AND    MR.    PEPPER 

dom.  "  Good  afternoon.  Good-by.  I  hope  you 
will  enjoy  your  walk." 

"  I  have  enjoyed  it."  His  answer  was  unstudied 
but  emphatic.  She  recognized  the  emphasis. 

"  Will  you  come  to  see  Mrs.  Coffin?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  no.  You  know  I  can't.  Good-by.  The 
sunset  is  beautiful,  isn't  it?" 

"  Beautiful,  indeed." 

"  Yes.  I — I  think  the  sunsets  from  this  point 
are  the  finest  I  have  ever  seen.  I  come  here  every 
Sunday  afternoon  to  see  them." 

This  remark  was  given  merely  to  cover  embar 
rassment,  but  it  had  an  unexpected  effect. 

"  You  do?  "  cried  the  minister.  The  next  mo 
ment  he  was  alone.  Grace  Van  Home  had  vanished 
in  the  gloom  of  the  pine  thickets. 

It  was  a  strange  John  Ellery  who  walked  slowly 
back  along  the  path,  one  that  Keziah  herself  would 
not  have  recognized,  to  say  nothing  of  Captain  El- 
kanah  and  the  parish  committee.  The  dignified  par 
son,  with  the  dignified  walk  and  calm,  untroubled 
brow,  was  gone,  and  here  was  an  absent-minded 
young  fellow  who  stumbled  blindly  along,  tripping 
over  roots  and  dead  limbs,  and  caring  nothing,  ap 
parently,  for  the  damage  to  his  Sunday  boots  and 
trousers  which  might  result  from  the  stumbles.  He 
saw  nothing  real,  and  heard  nothing,  not  even  the 
excited  person  who,  hidden  behind  the  bayberry  bush, 
hailed  him  as  he  passed.  It  was  not  until  this  per 
son  rushed  forth  and  seized  him  by  the  arm  that  he 
came  back  to  the  unimportant  affairs  of  this  material 
earth. 

"Why!  Why,  Mr.  Pepper!"  he  gasped. 
"Are  you  here?  What  do  you  want ?" 

147 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"Am  I  here?"  panted  Kyan.  "Ain't  I  been 
here  for  the  last  twenty  minutes  waitin'  to  get  a 
chance  at  you?  Ain't  I  been  chasin'  you  from  Dan 
to  Beersheby  all  this  dummed — excuse  me — after 
noon?  Oh,  my  godfreys  mighty!  " 

"Why,  what's  the  matter?" 

"Matter?  Matter  enough!  It's  all  your  fault. 
You  got  me  into  the  mess,  now  you  git  me  out  of  it." 

Usually,  when  Abishai  addressed  his  clergyman, 
it  was  in  a  tone  of  humble  respect  far  different  from 
his  present  frantic  assault.  The  Reverend  John  was 
astounded. 

"What  is  the  trouble,  Mr.  Pepper?"  he  de 
manded.  "  Behave  yourself,  man.  What  is  it?" 

'  You — you  made  me  do  it,"  gurgled  Kyan. 
'  Yes,  sir,  'twas  you  put  me  up  to  it.  When  you  was 
at  our  house  t'other  day,  after  Laviny  locked  me  up, 
you  told  me  the  way  to  get  square  was  to  lock  her  up, 
too.  And  I  done  it !  Yes,  sir,  I  done  it  when  she 
got  back  from  meetin'  this  noon.  I  run  off  and  left 
her  locked  in.  And — and  "  —he  wailed,  wringing 
his  hands—  "  I — I  ain't  dast  to  go  home  sence. 
Wha?\\l  do?" 


CHAPTER    IX 

IN   WHICH   MISS   DANIELS  DETERMINES  TO  FIND  OUT 

THE    hysterical    Mr.    Pepper    doubtless    ex 
pected  his  clergyman  to  be  almost  as  much 
upset  as  he  was  by  the  news  of  his  action. 
But  John  Ellery  was  provokingly  calm.     As  a  mat 
ter  of  fact  he  scarcely  grasped  the  purport  of  the 
little  man's  disjointed  story.     He  had  been  wander 
ing  in  dreamland,  his  head  among  the  clouds,   and 
the  explosion  of  Keziah's  bomb  disturbed,  but  did 
not  clear  the  air. 

"What  will  you  do?"  he  repeated.     "  Why— 
er — I  don't  know,  I'm  sure." 

Kyan  was  staggered. 

"  You  don't  know?  "  he  shouted.  "  You  don't? 
Then  who  does,  for  the  land  sakes?  Didn't  you 
tell  me  to  lock  her  up?  Didn't  I  do  it  'cause  you 
told  me?  Didn't— didn't- 

He  seemed  to  be  on  the  verge  of  apoplexy.  Also 
he  had  raised  his  voice  to  a  yell.  The  minister  seized 
him  by  the  arm  and  shook  him  into  silence. 

"Hush!  hush!"  he  commanded.  "Wait  a 
minute.  Let  me  understand  this  thing.  Some  one 
is  locked  up,  you  say.  Who  is  it?  Where— 

"  Who  is  it?  Ain't  I  tellin'  you.  It's  Laviny. 
She  went  into  that  spare  room  where  I  was  t'other 
day  and  I  slammed  the  spring  lock  to  on  her.  Then 
I  grabbed  the  key  and  run.  That  was  afore  three 

149 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

this  afternoon;  now  it's  'most  night  and  I  ain't  dast 
to  go  home.  What'll  she  say  when  I  let  her  out? 
I  got  to  let  her  out,  ain't  I  ?  She  can't  starve  to 
death  in  there,  can  she?  And  you  told  me  to  do 
it!  TOM  did!  Oh " 

The  apoplectic  attack  was  once  more  imminent. 

"  Stop  it,  Mr.  Pepper,"  ordered  Ellery.  "  I 
don't  remember  telling  you  to  lock  your  sister  up, 
though —  Why,  yes,  I  may  have  said  something 
or  other,  as  a  joke,  but  I  didn't  expect  you  would 
seriously  consider  doing  such  a  thing.  Ha,  ha ! 
This  is  the  most  idiotic  piece  of  business  that  I 
ever " 

"  Be  you  laughin'  ? "  demanded  the  shocked 
Abishai.  "Laughin'?  Why,  my  godfreys  mighty! 
Idiotic?  Well,  who's  the  idiot?  'Tain't  me!  I'd 
never  have  thought  of  such  a  fool  trick.  But  you 
said " 

"  Hush !  Let  me  think.  Have  you  told  any 
body?" 

'  Told  anybody!  I  guess  not.  And  nobody'll 
never  know  if  they  wait  for  me  to  tell  'em." 

'  Well,  then,  I  don't  see  why  you  can't  go  home 
and — hum — I  don't  like  to  advise  your  telling  a 
lie,  but  you  might  let  her  infer  that  it  was  an  acci 
dent.  Or,  if  you  really  mean  to  be  your  own  master, 
you  can  tell  her  you  did  it  purposely  and  will  do  it 
again  if  she  ever  tries  the  trick  on  you." 

"/  tell  her  that!  /  tell  her!  O  Mr.  Ellery, 
don't  talk  so.  You  don't  know  Laviny;  she  ain't  like 
most  women.  If  I  should  tell  her  that  she'd — I  don't 
know's  she  wouldn't  take  and  horsewhip  me.  Or 
commit  suicide.  She's  said  she  would  afore  now  if — 
if 

150 


MISS    DANIELS    TO    FIND    OUT 

"Nonsense!  She  won't  do  that,  you  needn't 
worry."  He  burst  into  another  laugh,  but  checked 
himself,  as  he  saw  the  look  of  absolute  distress  on 
poor  Kyan's  face. 

"  Never  mind,  Mr.  Pepper,"  he  said.  "  We'll 
think  of  some  plan  to  smooth  matters  over.  I'll  go 
home  with  you  now  and  we'll  let  her  out  together." 

"Will  you,  Mr.  Ellery?  Will  you,  honest? 
Say,  by  godfreys  mighty,  I'd  get  down  on  my  knees 
and  thank  you  this  minute  if — if  I  wa'n't  in  such  a 
hurry.  Come  right  on;  come  quick!" 

It  was  a  silent  procession  of  two  that  wended 
its  way  out  of  the  pines  and  across  the  fields,  by  the 
brook  and  the  pond,  where  the  evening  mists  were 
rising  and  the  frogs  chanting  their  good-night  song, 
through  the  gathering  twilight  shades,  across  the 
main  road  and  up  the  lighthouse  lane.  Kyan,  his 
mind  filled  with  fearful  forebodings,  was  busily 
trying  to  think  of  a  reasonable  excuse  for  the  "  acci 
dental  "  imprisonment  of  his  sister.  John  Ellery 
was  thinking,  also,  but  his  thoughts  were  not  of  the 
Peppers. 

The  little  house  was  dark  and  still  as  they  ap 
proached  it.  No  welcoming  light  in  the  dining-room 
windows,  no  open  door,  no  shrill  voice  demanding  to 
know  where  the  wandering  brother  had  been  "  all 
this  everlastin'  time."  Even  the  hens  had  gone  to 
roost.  Abishai  groaned. 

"  Oh,  dear!  "  he  wailed.  "  I'm  scart  to  death. 
Where  is  she?  You  don't  cal'late  she's  done  it,  do 
ye?" 

"Done  it?     Done  what?" 

"  Done  the  suicidin'.  She  said  she  would  if — 
O  Laviny!  " 


"Hush!  Be  quiet.  She's  all  right.  She's  in 
the  room  where  you  left  her,  of  course.  She  couldn't 
get  out,  could  she?  You've  got  the  key.  Come  in." 

They  entered  the  house.  The  dining  room  was 
dark  and  quiet.  So  was  the  sitting  room.  The  clock 
ticked,  solemn  and  slow.  Kyan  clutched  at  his  com 
panion's  arm. 

"  I  don't  hear  her,"  he  whispered.  '  You  don't 
s'pose  she  has  done  it?  Godfreys  mighty!  " 

The  gloom  and  mystery  were  having  their  effect, 
even  on  Mr.  Ellery's  nerves.  His  answer  also  was 
given  in  a  tense  whisper,  but  with  some  irritation. 

"  Hush!  "  he  murmured.  "  Let  go  of  my  wrist. 
You've  pinched  it  black  and  blue.  Which  room  did 
you  leave  her  in?  Show  me  at  once." 

Kyan's  trembling  knees  managed  to  carry  him 
to  the  little  hall  leading  from  the  sitting  room  toward 
the  ell  at  the  side  of  the  house.  This  hall  was  almost 
pitch  black.  The  minister  felt  his  guide's  chin 
whisker  brush  his  ear  as  the  following  sentence  was 
literally  breathed  into  it : 

"  Here — here  'tis,"  panted  Kyan.  "  Here's  the 
door.  I  don't  hear  nothin',  do  you?  Listen!  " 

They  listened.  Not  a  sound,  save  the  dismal 
tick  of  the  clock  in  the  room  they  had  left.  Ellery 
knocked  on  the  door. 

"  Miss  Pepper,"  he  said;  "  Miss  Pepper,  are 
you  there?  " 

Kyan  caught  his  breath.     No  answer. 

"  Miss  Pepper,"  repeated  the  minister.  "  Miss 
Pepper !  " 

Silence,  absolute.  Abishai  could  stand  it  no 
longer.  He  groaned  and  collapsed  on  his  knees. 

"She  has!"  he  moaned.  "She's  done  it  and 
152 


MISS    DANIELS    TO    FIND    OUT 

there  ain't  nothin'   in  there  but  her  remains.      Oh, 
my  soul !  " 

Ellery,  now  rather  frightened  himself,  shook  him 
violently. 

"Be  quiet,  you  idiot!"  he  commanded.  "  We 
must  go  in.  Give  me  the  key." 

After  repeated  orders  and  accompanying  shak 
ings,  Kyan  produced  a  key.  The  minister  snatched 
it  from  his  trembling  fingers,  felt  for  the  keyhole  and 
threw  the  door  open.  The  little  room  was  almost  as 
dark  as  the  hall  and  quite  as  still.  There  was  a  dis 
tinct  smell  of  old  clothes  and  camphor. 

"  A  match,"  demanded  Ellery.     "  Quick!  " 

"  I  ain't  got  none,"  quavered  Mr.  Pepper. 
"  They're  all  in  the  box  in  the  settin'  room.  Oh, 
my  godfreys  mighty!  What'll  I  do?  What  under- 
taker'll  I  have?  Solon  Tripp's  the  reg'lar  one,  but 
Laviny  and  he  had  a  row  and  she  said  she'd  come 
back  and  ha'nt  me  if  I  ever  let  him  touch  her  rema — 
Where  you  goin'  ?  Don't  leave  me  here!  " 

The  minister  was  going  after  a  match,  and  said 
so.  In  a  moment  he  returned  with  several.  One 
of  these  he  lit.  The  brimstone  sputtered,  burned 
blue  and  fragrant,  then  burst  into  a  yellow  flame. 

The  little  room  was  empty. 

John  Ellery  drew  a  breath  of  relief.  Then  he 
laughed. 

"Humph!"  he  exclaimed.     "She's  gone." 

"  Gone?  Why,  she  ain't  nuther!  Where  could 
she  go?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  but  she  has  gone — somewhere. 
At  any  rate,  she's  not  here." 

Kyan  rose  to  his  feet.  His  alarm  had  changed 
to  paralyzed  astonishment. 

153 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"How  could  she  go?"  he  repeated.  "That 
window  won't  open  more'n  six  inches.  Laviny  ain't 
what  you'd  call  fleshy,  but  she  never  could  squeeze 
through  that  in  this  world.  And  I  locked  the  door, 
'cause  I  heard  the  click.  I — I — I — do  you  b'lieve 
in  spirits,  Mr.  Ellery?" 

"Nonsense!  Come  into  the  sitting  room,  light 
a  lamp,  and  let's  talk  it  over." 

The  lamp  was  found  and  lighted  at  last.  Its 
radiance  brightened  the  dingy  sitting  room. 

"Do  you  b'lieve  in  spirits?"  repeated  Kyan. 
"  I've  heard  yarns  about  folks  bein'  spirited  away, 
but  I  never  took  much  stock  in  'em.  "  And,"  he 
added  with  conviction,  "  'twould  take  a  pretty  husky 
spirit  to  handle  Laviny  if  she  had  her  mad  up. 
She-  Hush  1  hear  that !" 

The  sound  of  wheels  was  heard  in  the  lane  by 
the  front  gate.  A  vehicle  stopped.  Then  some  one 
called  a  hurried  good  night.  Mr.  Pepper's  fear 
returned. 

"  It's  her!  "  he  cried.  "  She's  been  ahuntin'  for 
me.  Now  I'll  get  it !  You  stand  by  me,  Mr.  Ellery. 
You  got  to.  You  said  you  would.  But  how  on 
earth  did  she  get— 

The  minister  motioned  him  to  silence. 

"  I'll  stand  by  you,"  he  whispered.  "  Don't 
speak.  Leave  it  to  me." 

A  step  sounded  on  the  back  step.  The  dining- 
room  door  was  hurriedly  thrown  open. 

'  'Bishy  "  called  Miss  Pepper  eagerly.  "  'Bish, 
where  are  you?  " 

"  Here — here  I  be,  Laviny,"  faltered  Kyan. 

His  sister  appeared  on  the  threshold.  She  was 
dressed  in  her  Sunday  best,  flowered  poke  bonnet, 

154 


MISS    DANIELS   TO    FIND    OUT 

mitts,  imitation  India  shawl,  rustling  black  bomba 
zine  gown.  She  looked  at  Mr.  Pepper,  then  at  the 
minister. 

UO  Mr.  Ellery!"  she  exclaimed,  "be  you 
here?" 

The  Reverend  John  admitted  his  presence.  Miss 
Pepper's  demeanor  surprised  him.  She  did  not  seem 
angry;  indeed,  she  acted  embarrassed  and  confused, 
as  if  she,  and  not  her  brother,  were  the  guilty  party. 

"  I'm  afraid  I'm  awful  late,  'Bishy,"  she  said. 
"  Have  you  had  your  supper?  " 

Kyan  was  too  perturbed  to  venture  a  reply.  The 
sword  above  his  head  was  quivering  on  its  single  hair 
and  he  was  preparing  to  dodge  the  fall.  But  it  did 
not  fall. 

"You  haven't  had  any  supper,  have  you?" 
purred  Miss  Pepper  pityingly.  "  It's  too  bad.  You 
poor  thing!  you  must  be  awful  hungry." 

She  moved  across  the  room  and  kissed  him. 
Abishai,  who  had  prepared  himself  for  a  different 
sort  of  greeting,  clutched  his  chair  with  both  hands. 
He  looked  as  if  he  might  faint.  The  minister  gazed 
open-mouthed. 

"  I'm  awful  sorry,  Mr.  Ellery,"  gushed  Lavinia, 
removing  the  bonnet.  "  You  see,  I  was  invited  out  to 
ride  this  afternoon  and — and — I  went." 

She  glanced  at  her  brother,  reddened — yes,  al 
most  blushed — and  continued. 

"You  know,  'Bishy,"  she  said,  "Thankful 
Payne's  cousin's  home  avisitin'  her.  He  come  about 
that  cousin's  will — the  other  cousin  that's  just  died. 
He's  a  reel  nice  man — her  live  cousin  is — keeps  a  shoe 
store  up  to  Sandwich,  and  I  used  to  know  him  years 
ago.  When  I  was  over  to  Thankful's  t'other  day, 

155 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

him  and  me  had  quite  a  talk.  We  got  speakin'  of 
what  nice  drives  there  was  around  Trumet  and— 
and — er — well,  he  asked  me  if  I  wouldn't  like  to  go 
to  ride  next  Sunday  afternoon — that's  to-day.  And 
a  ride  bein'  a  good  deal  of  a  treat  to  me,  I  said  I 
would.  Thankful  was  goin',  too,  but — er — er— 
she  couldn't  very  well.  So  Caleb — that's  his  name, 
you  remember,  'Bishy — he  come  round  with  his 
horse  and  team  about  ha'f  past  three  and  we  started. 
But  I'd  no  idee  'twas  so  late.  I — I — meant  to  tell 
you  I  was  goin',  'Bish,  but  I  forgot." 

Kyan  had  listened  to  this  recital,  or  explanation, 
or  apology,  with  a  curious  succession  of  expressions 
passing  over  his  face.  He  swallowed  two  or  three 
times,  but  did  not  interrupt. 

"  I'm  so  sorry  I  kept  you  waitin'  supper,"  gushed 
Lavinia.  "  I'll  get  you  a  good  one  now.  Oh,  well, 
deary  me !  I  must  be  gettin'  absent-minded.  I  ain't 
asked  you  where  you've  been  all  the  afternoon." 

Abishai's  eyes  turned  beseechingly  toward  his 
promised  backer.  Ellery  could  not  resist  that  mute 
appeal. 

'  Your  brother  has  been  with  me  for  some  time, 
Miss  Pepper,"  he  volunteered. 

"Oh,  has  he?  Ain't  that  nice!  He  couldn't 
have  been  in  better  comp'ny,  I'm  sure.  But,  oh, 
say,  'Bishy!  I  ain't  told  you  how  nigh  I  come  to  not 
gettin'  out  at  all.  Just  afore  Mr.  Payne  come,  I  was 
in  that  spare  room  and — you  remember  I  put  a 
spring  lock  on  that  door?  " 

It  was  here  at  last.  The  long-dreaded  explosion 
was  imminent.  Ryan's  chin  shook.  He  braced  him 
self  for  the  blow.  The  minister  prepared  to  come 
to  the  rescue. 

I56 


MISS    DANIELS    TO    FIND    OUT 

"  Yes,"  went  on  Lavinia.  "  I — I  put  a  lock  on 
that  door  so's  I — I  could  shut  the  room  up  when  I 
wanted  to.  Well,  when  I  was  in  there  this  afternoon 
the  wind  blew  the  door  shut  and—  Hey?  " 

"  I — I  never  said  nothin',"  panted  Kyan. 
'  Yes,  it  blew  to,  the  lock  clicked,  and  there  I 
was.  If  I  hadn't  had  the  other  key  in  my  pocket  I 
don't  know's  I  wouldn't  have  been  in  there  yet. 
That  would  have  been  a  pretty  mess,  wouldn't  it ! 
He  !  he  !  he  !  " 

She  laughed  shrilly.  The  minister  looked  at  her, 
then  at  her  brother,  and  he,  too,  burst  into  a  shout 
of  laughter.  Kyan  did  not  laugh;  yet  his  grip  upon 
the  chair  relaxed,  and  over  his  countenance  was 
spreading  a  look  of  relief,  of  hope  and  peace,  like 
a  clear  sunrise  after  a  stormy  night. 

''  Well,  I  must  go  and  get  supper,"  declared 
Lavinia.  '  You'll  forgive  me  for  leavin'  you  so, 
won't  you,  'Bishy?" 

Mr.  Pepper  sighed. 

"  Yes,"  he  said  slowly.  "  I'll  forgive  you, 
Laviny." 

"  I  knew  you  would.  I  hope  you  ain't  been  too 
lonesome.  Did  you  miss  me?  Was  you  wrorried?" 

"Hey?  Yes,  I — I  missed  you  consider'ble.  I 
was  gettin'  sort  of  worried.  I  didn't  s'pose  you'd 
go  off  to  ride  with — with  a  feller  and  leave  me  all 
alone.  But  I  forgive  you."  He  stopped,  drew  his 
hand  across  his  forehead,  and  then  added,  "  I  s'pose 
I  hadn't  ought  to  complain.  Maybe  I'd  better  get 
used  to  it;  I  guess  likely  this  is  only  the  beginnin'." 

Lavinia  blushed  furiously. 

"  Why,  'Bish !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  How  you  do 
talk!  Ain't  he  awful,  Mr.  Ellery?  " 

157 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

The  Reverend  John  did  not  answer.  He  could 
not  trust  himself  to  speak  just  then.  When  he  did 
it  was  to  announce  that  he  must  be  getting  toward 
home.  No,  he  couldn't  stay  for  supper. 

Miss  Pepper  went  into  the  kitchen,  and  Abishai 
saw  the  visitor  to  the  door.  Ellery  extended  his 
hand  and  Kyan  shook  it  with  enthusiasm. 

"  Wa'n't  it  fine?"  he  whispered.  "Talk  about 
your  miracles  !  Godfreys  mighty !  Say,  Mr.  Ellery, 
don't  you  ever  tell  a  soul  how  it  really  was,  will 
you?" 

"  No,  of  course  not." 

"  No,  I  know  you  won't.  You  won't  tell  on  me 
and  I  won't  tell  on  you.  That's  a  trade,  hey?  " 

The  minister  stopped  in  the  middle  of  his  step. 

"What?  "  he  said,  turning. 

Mr.  Pepper  merely  smiled,  winked,  and  shut  the 
door.  John  Ellery  reflected  much  during  his  home 
ward  walk. 

The  summer  in  Trumet  drowsed  on,  as  Trumet 
summers  did  in  those  days,  when  there  were  no 
boarders  from  the  city,  no  automobiles  or  telephones 
or  "  antique  "  collectors.  In  June  the  Sunday  school 
had  its  annual  picnic.  On  the  morning  of  the  Fourth 
of  July  some  desperate  spirits  among  the  younger  set 
climbed  in  at  the  church  window  and  rang  the  bell, 
in  spite  of  the  warning  threats  of  the  selectmen,  who 
had  gone  on  record  as  prepared  to  prosecute  all 
disturbers  of  the  peace  to  the  "  full  extent  of  the 
law."  One  of  the  leading  citizens,  his  name  was 
Daniels,  awoke  to  find  the  sleigh,  which  had  been 
stored  in  his  carriage  house,  hoisted  to  the  roof  of 
his  barn,  and  a  section  of  his  front  fence  tastefully 

158 


MISS    DANIELS    TO    FIND    OUT 

draped  about  it  like  a  garland.  The  widow  Rogers 
noticed  groups  of  people  looking  up  at  her  house  and 
laughing.  Coming  out  to  see  what  they  were  laugh 
ing  at,  she  was  provoked  beyond  measure  to  find  a 
sign  over  the  front  door,  announcing  "  Man  Wanted 
Imecjiate.  inquire  Within."  The  door  of  the  Come- 
Outer  chapel  was  nailed  fast  and  Captain  Zeb 
Mayo's  old  white  horse  wandered  loose  along  the 
main  road  ringed  with  painted  black  stripes  like  a 
zebra.  Captain  Zeb  was  an  angry  man,  for  he  ven 
erated  that  horse. 

The  storm  caused  by  these  outbreaks  subsided 
and  Trumet  settled  into  its  jog  trot.  The  stages 
rattled  through  daily,  the  packet  came  and  went  every 
little  while,  occasionally  a  captain  returned  home 
from  a  long  voyage,  and  another  left  for  one  equally 
long.  Old  Mrs.  Prince,  up  at  the  west  end  of  the 
town,  was  very  anxious  concerning  her  son,  whose 
ship  was  overdue  at  Calcutta  and  had  not  been  heard 
from.  The  minister  went  often  to  see  her  and  tried 
to  console,  but  what  consolation  is  there  when  one's 
only  child  and  sole  support  is  nobody  knows  where, 
drowned  and  dead  perhaps,  perhaps  a  castaway  on 
a  desert  island,  or  adrift  with  a  desperate  crew  in 
an  open  boat?  And  Mrs.  Prince  would  say,  over  and 
over  again : 

"  Yes,  yes,  Mr.  Ellery.  Thank  you.  I'm  sure 
you  mean  to  encourage  me,  but  oh,  you  don't  know 
the  things  that  happen  to  seafarin'  men.  I  do.  I 
went  to  sea  with  my  husband  for  fourteen  year. 
He  died  on  a  voyage  and  they  buried  him  over 
the  vessel's  side.  I  can't  even  go  to  his  grave. 
The  sea  got  him,  and  now  if  it's  taken  my  Ed 
die " 

13  159 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

The  young  clergyman  came  away  from  these 
calls  feeling  very  young,  indeed,  and  woefully  inade 
quate.  What  did  he  know  of  the  great  sorrows  of 
life? 

The  Sunday  dinners  with  the  Daniels  family  were 
almost  regular  weekly  functions  now.  He  dodged 
them  when  he  could,  but  he  could  not  do  so  often 
without  telling  an  absolute  lie,  and  this  he  would 
not  do.  And,  regularly,  when  the  solemn  meal  was 
eaten,  Captain  Elkanah  went  upstairs  for  his  nap 
and  the  Reverend  John  was  left  alone  with  Annabel. 
Miss  Daniels  did  her  best  to  be  entertaining,  was, 
in  fact,  embarrassingly  confidential  and  cordial.  It 
was  hard  work  to  get  away,  and  yet,  somehow  or 
other,  at  the  stroke  of  four,  the  minister  always  said 
good-by  and  took  his  departure. 

;' What  is  your  hurry,  Mr.  Ellery?"  begged 
Annabel  on  one  occasion  when  the  reading  of 
Moore's  poems  had  been  interrupted  in  the  middle 
by  the  guest's  sudden  rising  and  reaching  for  his  hat. 
"  I  don't  see  why  you  always  go  so  early.  It's  so 
every  time  you're  here.  Do  you  call  at  any  other 
house  on  Sunday  afternoons?" 

"  No,"  was  the  prompt  reply.     "  Oh,  no." 
'  Then  why  can't  you  stay  ?     You  know  I — that 
is,  pa  and  I — would  love  to  have  you." 

'  Thank  you.  Thank  you.  You're  very  kind. 
But  I  really  must  go.  Good  afternoon,  Miss 
Daniels." 

"  Mrs.  Rogers  said  she  saw  you  going  across  the 
fields  after  you  left  here  last  Sunday.  Did  you  go 
for  a  walk?" 

"  Er— er— yes,  I  did." 

"  I  wjsh  you  had  mentioned  it.     I  love  to  walk, 
1 60 


MISS    DANIELS    TO    FIND    OUT 

and  there  are  so  few  people  that  I  find  congenial 
company.  Are  you  going  for  a  walk  now?  " 

"  Why,  no — er — not  exactly." 

"  I'm  sorry.  Good-by.  Will  you  come  again 
next  Sunday?  Of  course  you  will.  You  know  how 
dreadfully  disappointed  I — we — shall  be  if  you 
don't." 

"  Thank  you,  Miss  Daniels.  I  enjoyed  the  din 
ner  very  much.  Good  afternoon." 

He  hurried  down  the  path.  Annabel  watched 
him  go.  Then  she  did  an  odd  thing.  She  passed 
through  the  sitting  room,  entered  the  front  hall, 
went  up  the  stairs,  tiptoed  by  the  door  of  her  father's 
room,  and  then  up  another  flight  to  the  attic.  From 
here  a  steep  set  of  steps  led  to  the  cupola  on  the  roof. 
In  that  cupola  was  a  spyglass. 

Annabel  opened  a  window  a  few  inches,  took 
the  spyglass  from  its  rack,  adjusted  it,  laid  it  on  the 
sill  of  the  open  window  and  knelt,  the  glass  at  her 
eye.  The  floor  of  the  cupola  was  very  dusty  and 
she  was  wearing  her  newest  and  best  gown,  but  she 
did  not  seem  to  mind. 

Through  the  glass  she  saw  the  long  slope  of 
Cannon  Hill,  with  the  beacon  at  the  top  and  Captain 
Mayo's  house  near  it.  The  main  road  was  deserted 
save  for  one  figure,  that  of  her  late  caller.  He  was 
mounting  the  hill  in  long  strides. 

She  watched  him  gain  the  crest  and  pass  over  it 
out  of  sight.  Then  she  shifted  the  glass  so  that  it 
pointed  toward  the  spot  beyond  the  curve  of  the  hill, 
where  the  top  of  a  thick  group  of  silver-leafs  hid 
the  parsonage.  Above  the  tree  tops  glistened  the 
white  steeple  of  the  Regular  church.  If  the  minister 
went  straight  home  she  could  not  see  him.  But  under 

161 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

those  silver-leafs  was  the  beginning  of  the  short  cut 
across  the  fields  where  Didama  had  seen  Mr.  Ellery 
walking  on  the  previous  Sunday. 

So  Annabel  watched  and  waited.  Five  minutes, 
then  ten.  He  must  have  reached  the  clump  of  trees 
before  this,  yet  she  could  not  see  him.  Evidently,  he 
had  gone  straight  home.  She  drew  a  breath  of 
relief. 

Then,  being  in  a  happier  frame  of  mind,  and  the 
afternoon  clear  and  beautiful,  she  moved  the  glass 
along  the  horizon,  watching  the  distant  white  specks 
across  the  bay  on  the  Wellmouth  bluffs — houses 
and  buildings  they  were — the  water,  the  shore,  the 
fish  weirs,  the  pine  groves.  She  became  interested 
in  a  sloop,  beating  into  Wellmouth  harbor,  and 
watched  that.  After  a  time  she  heard,  in  the  house 
below,  her  father  shouting  her  name. 

She  gave  the  glass  one  more  comprehensive  sweep 
preparatory  to  closing  it  and  going  downstairs.  As 
she  did  this  a  moving  speck  came  into  view  and 
vanished. 

Slowly  she  moved  the  big  end  of  the  spyglass 
back  along  the  arc  it  had  traveled.  She  found  the 
speck  and  watched  it.  It  was  a  man,  striding  across 
the  meadow  land,  a  half  mile  beyond  the  parsonage, 
and  hurrying  in  the  direction  of  the  beach.  She 
saw  him  climb  a  high  dune,  jump  a  fence,  cross  an 
other  field  and  finally  vanish  in  the  grove  of  pines 
on  the  edge  of  the  bluff  by  the  shore. 

The  man  was  John  Ellery,  the  minister.  Evi 
dently,  he  had  not  gone  home,  nor  had  he  taken  the 
short  cut.  Instead  he  had  walked  downtown  a  long 
way  and  then  turned  in  to  cross  the  fields  and  work 
his  way  back. 

162 


MISS    DANIELS   TO    FIND   OUT 

Annabel  put  down  the  glass  and,  heedless  of  her 
father's  calls,  sat  thinking.  The  minister  had  delib 
erately  deceived  her.  More  than  that,  he  had  gone 
to  considerable  trouble  to  avoid  observation.  Why 
had  he  done  it?  Had  he  done  the  same  thing  on 
other  Sunday  afternoons?  Was  there  any  real  reason 
why  he  insisted  on  leaving  the  house  regularly  at  four 
o'clock? 

Annabel  did  not  know.  Her  eyes  snapped  and 
her  sharp  features  looked  sharper  yet  as  she 
descended  the  steps  to  the  attic.  She  did  not  know; 
but  she  intended  to  find  out. 


CHAPTER    X 

IN  WHICH  KEZIAH'S  TROUBLES  MULTIPLY 

KEZIAH  was  getting  worried  about  her  par 
son.  Not  concerning  his  popularity  with 
his  congregation.  She  had  long  since 
ceased  to  worry  about  that.  The  young  minister's 
place  in  his  people's  regard  was  now  assured,  the 
attendance  was  increasing,  and  the  Regular  church 
was  now  on  a  firmer  footing,  financially  and  socially, 
than  it  had  been  in  years.  Even  Mrs.  Rogers  and 
Lavinia  Pepper  had  ceased  to  criticise,  except  as 
pertained  to  unimportant  incidentals,  and  were  now 
among  the  loudest  of  the  praise  chanters.  And  as 
Captain  Zeb  Mayo  said:  "When  Didama  and 
Laviny  stops  fault-findin',  the  millennium's  so  'nigh 
port  a  feller  ought  to  be  overhaulin'  his  saint  uni 
form." 

But  what  worried  Mrs.  Coffin  was  John  Ellery's 
personal  appearance  and  behavior.  He  had  grown 
perceptibly  thinner  during  the  past  month,  his  man 
ner  was  distrait,  and,  worst  of  all  in  the  house 
keeper's  eyes,  his  appetite  had  fallen  off.  She  tried 
all  sorts  of  tempting  dishes,  but  the  result  was 
discouraging. 

"  What!  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Don't  want  but  one 
piece  of  huckleberry  pie?  Why,  a  week  ago  you 
ate  three  and  looked  kind  of  disappointed  'cause  the 

164 


TROUBLES    MULTIPLY 

dish -was  empty.     What  is  the   matter?     Are  you 
sick?" 

"  No,  Mrs.  Coffin,"  replied  the  Reverend  John. 
"  No,  I'm  not  sick.  I  just  don't  feel  hungry,  that's 
all." 

"  Hum !  Well,  I've  usually  noticed  that  when  a 
healthy  man  don't  feel  hungry  at  dinner  time, 
'specially  in  the  huckleberry  season,  his  healthiness  is 
pretty  shaky.  What  does  ail  you,  Mr.  Ellery?  Got 
somethin'  on  your  mind?  If  you  have,  I'd  heave  it 
overboard.  Or  you  might  unload  it  onto  me  and 
let  me  prescribe.  I've  had  consider'ble  experience 
in  that  kind  of  doctorin'." 

But  the  answer  was  unsatisfactory.  Mr.  Ellery 
laughed,  changed  the  subject,  and  wandered  out  into 
the  garden,  where  Keziah  saw  him,  shortly  after 
wards,  intently  regarding  nothing  in  particular  with 
a  rapt  stare.  She  watched  him  for  a  few  moments 
and  then,  with  a  puzzled  shake  of  the  head,  returned 
to  her  work.  She  believed  that  he  was  troubled 
about  something  and  was  herself  troubled  in  conse 
quence. 

His  absent-mindedness  was  most  acute  on  Sun 
day  evenings,  before  prayer  meeting,  and  after  he 
had  returned  from  the  afternoon  at  Captain  El- 
kanah's. 

"  Say,  Mr.  Ellery,"  she  said,  on  one  of  these 
Sunday  evenings,  "  do  you  know,  it  seems  to  me 
that  Elkanah's  meals  must  go  to  your  head.  Don't 
have  any  of  his  granddad's  New  England  rum,  do 
you?  They  tell  me  he's  got  some  of  that  down 
cellar  that  he  doles  out  occasional  to  his  very  par 
ticular  friends.  That's  the  common  yarn  around 
town,  though  I  couldn't  swear  'twas  gospel." 

165 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

The  minister  smiled  and  denied  acquaintanceship 
with  the  New  England  beverage. 

"  Humph !  Then  it  must  be  the  other  thing. 
You  ain't  in  love,  are  you?" 

The  young  man  started,  colored,  and  was  plainly 
embarrassed. 

"In  love?"  he  repeated.  "In  love,  Mrs. 
Coffin?" 

"  Yes,  in  love.  Annabel  hasn't  landed  a  male 
at  last,  has  she?  She's  a  line  over  the  side  for  a  long 
time." 

The  hearty  laugh  with  which  this  was  received 
settled  the  question  of  Annabel's  success.  Keziah 
was  relieved. 

"  Well,  I'm  glad  of  that,"  she  said.  ;'  I  ain't 
got  any  grudge  against  Annabel,  but  neither  have 
I  got  one  against  you.  Another  man  in  that  family 
would  have  an  easy  time  in  one  way,  he  wouldn't 
have  to  do  any  thinkin'  for  himself — Elkanah  and 
his  daughter  would  do  all  that  was  necessary.  So 
you're  not  in  love.  Then  I  don't  know  what  does 
ail  you.  I'll  say  this,  though,  for  a  body  that  ain't  m 
love  you  certainly  stay  with  the  Danielses  a  long 
time.  You  went  there  right  after  meetin'  this  noon 
and  now  it's  seven  o'clock  and  you've  just  got  home. 
And  'twas  the  same  last  Sunday  and  the  one  before. 
Been  there  all  the  time,  have  you?  " 

She  knew  he  had  not,  because  she  had  seen  him 
pass  the  parsonage,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road, 
two  hours  before.  But  she  was  curious  to  learn 
what  his  reply  would  be.  It  was  noncommittal. 

"  No,"  he  said  slowly.  "  Not  all  the  time.  I- 
er — went  for  a  short  walk." 

Before  she  could  inquire  concerning  that  walk 
166 


TROUBLES    MULTIPLY 

he  had  entered  the  study  and  closed  the  door  after 
him. 

During  the  week  which  followed  this  particular 
conversation  he  was  more  absent-minded  than  ever. 
There  were  evenings  when  he  spoke  scarcely  a  word, 
but  sat  silent  in  his  chair,  while  Keziah,  looking  up 
from  her  mending,  watched  him  and  guessed  and 
wondered.  After  he  had  gone  to  his  room  for  the 
night,  she  would  hear  him  pacing  the  floor,  back 
and  forth,  back  and  forth.  She  asked  no  more 
questions,  however;  minding  her  own  business  was 
a  specialty  of  Keziah's,  and  it  was  a  rare  quality  in 
Trumet. 

Sunday  was  a  cloudy,  warm  day,  "  muggy,"  so 
Captain  Zeb  described  it.  After  the  morning  service 
Mr.  Ellery,  as  usual,  went  home  with  Captain 
Daniels  and  Annabel.  Keziah  returned  to  the  par 
sonage,  ate  a  lonely  dinner,  washed  the  dishes,  and 
sat  down  to  read  a  library  book.  She  read  for  an 
hour  and  then,  finding  it  difficult  to  keep  her  mind 
on  the  story,  gave  it  up,  closed  the  book  and,  rising, 
walked  to  the  window.  But  the  misty,  hot  loneli 
ness  of  the  afternoon,  was  neither  interesting  nor 
cheerful,  so  she  turned  away  and  went  upstairs  to 
her  own  room.  Her  trunk  was  in  one  corner  of 
this  room  and  she  unlocked  it,  taking  from  a  com 
partment  of  the  tray  a  rosewood  writing  case,  inlaid 
with  mother-of-pearl,  a  present  from  her  father,  who 
had  brought  it  home  from  sea  when  she  was  a 
girl. 

From  the  case  she  took  a  packet  of  letters  and  a 
daguerreotype.  The  latter  was  the  portrait  of  a 
young  man,  in  high-collared  coat,  stock,  and  fancy 
waistcoat.  His  hair,  worn  long  over  the  ears,  was 

167 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

smooth  with  a  shine  that  suggested  oil,  and  in  his 
shirt  front  was  a  large  pin,  which  might  possibly 
have  been  mistaken  by  a  credulous  observer  for  a 
diamond.  Mrs.  Coffin  looked  at  the  daguerreotype, 
sighed,  shuddered,  and  laid  it  aside.  Then  she 
opened  the  packet  of  letters.  Selecting  one  from  the 
top  of  the  pile,  she  read  it  slowly.  And,  as  she  read, 
she  sighed  again. 

She  did  not  hear  the  back  door  of  the  parsonage 
open  and  close  softly.  Nor  did  she  hear  the  cautious 
footsteps  in  the  rooms  below.  What  aroused  her 
from  her  reading  was  her  own  name,  spoken  at  the 
foot  of  the  stairs. 

"  Keziah  !    Keziah,  are  you  there?  " 

She  started,  sprang  up,  and  ran  out  into  the  hall, 
the  letter  still  in  her  hand. 

"  Who  is  it?  "  she  asked  sharply.  "  Mr.  Ellery, 
is  that  you?  " 

"  No,"  was  the  answer.  "  It's  me — Nat.  Are 
you  busy,  Keziah?  I  want  to  see  you  for  a  minute." 

The  housekeeper  hurriedly  thrust  the  letter  into 
her  waist. 

"  I'll  be  right  down,  Nat,"  she  answered.  "  I'm 
comin'." 

He  was  in  the  sitting  room  when  she  entered. 
He  was  wearing  his  Sunday  suit  of  blue  and  his 
soft  felt  hat  was  on  the  center  table.  She  held  out 
her  hand  and  he  shook  it  heartily. 

"Well!  "  she  observed,  smiling,  "  I  declare  if  I 
don't  believe  you've  got  the  tiptoe  habit.  This  is 
the  second  time  you've  sneaked  into  the  house  and 
scared  me  'most  to  death.  I  asked  you  before  if 
you  wa'n't  ashamed  of  yourself  and  now  I  ask  it 
again." 

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TROUBLES    MULTIPLY 

Before  he  could  reply  she  caught  a  glimpse  of 
his  face. 

"  What  is  it?  "  she  asked.  "  What  is  the  matter? 
Is  anybody  sick?  Is  your  father — 

"  No,  he's  all  right.  That  is,  he's  as  well  as  he 
has  been  lately,  though  that  isn't  sayin'  much." 

"  Is  Grace- 

"  No,  she's  all  right,  too,  I  guess.  Been  sort  of 
quiet  and  sorrowful  for  the  last  few  weeks — or  I've 
seemed  to  notice  that  she  has — but  I  cal'late  it's 
nothin'  serious.  I  wouldn't  wonder  if  the  same 
thing  that's  troublin'  her  is  what  ails  me." 

"  But  what  is  it?     Why  don't  you  tell  me?  " 

"  I'm  goin'  to  tell  you,  Keziah.  That's  what  I 
come  here  for.  I— 

"  Sit  down,  can't  you?  Don't  stand  up  there  like 
a  lighthouse,  shuttin'  out  the  whole  broadside  of  the 
room.  You  are  the  biggest  thing!  " 

Captain  Hammond  selected  the  most  substantial 
chair  in  the  apartment  and  sat  down  upon  it.  He 
looked  at  his  friend  and  shook  his  head. 

"  No  use,  Keziah,"  he  said.  "  If  I  was  as  deep 
down  in  the  blues  as  the  bottom  of  the  Whale  Deep, 
a  look  at  that  face  of  yours  would  pull  me  to  the  top 
again.  You're  a  good  woman!  " 

"  Thanks !  When  I  have  spare  time  on  my 
hands  I'll  practice  tryin'  to  believe  that.  But  what 
is  the  trouble,  Nat?  Out  with  it." 

"  Well,  Keziah,  it's  trouble  enough.  Dad  and  I 
have  had  a  fallin'  out." 

Mrs.  Coffin's  mouth  and  eyes  opened. 

"What?"  she  cried,  in  utter  astonishment. 
'  Yes.     It's  true.     We  had  what  was  next  door 
to  a  real  quarrel  after  dinner  to-day.     It  would  have 

169 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

been  a  real  one  if  I  hadn't  walked  off  and  left  him. 
He's  as  set  as  the  rock  of  Gibraltar,  and " 

"  And  your  foundations  ain't  given  to  slippin' 
much.  Nat  Hammond,  I'm  surprised  at  you  !  What 
was  it  all  about?  Religion?" 

"  No,  not  a  sliver  of  religion  in  it.  If  'twas  that, 
I  could  dodge,  or  haul  down  my  colors,  if  I  had  to. 
But  it's  somethin'  worse,  enough  sight  worse.  Some- 
thin'  I  can't  do — even  for  dad — and  won't  either. 
Keziah,  he's  dead  set  on  my  marryin'  Grace.  Says 
if  I  don't  he'll  know  that  I  don't  really  care  a  tin 
nickel  for  him,  or  for  his  wishes,  or  what  becomes 
of  the  girl  after  he's  gone." 

"Nat!" 

"  It's  a  fact.  You  see,  dad  realizes,  better'n  I 
thought  he  did,  that  his  health  is  pretty  shaky  and 
that  he  is  likely  to  founder  'most  any  time.  He  says 
that  don't  worry  him;  if  he  knew  Grace  and  I 
were  provided  for  he'd  slip  his  cable  with  a  clean 
manifest.  But  the  dream  of  his  life,  he  says,  has 
been  that  we  should  marry.  And  he  wants  to  see 
it  done." 

Keziah  was  silent  for  a  moment.  Then  she  said 
slowly : 

"And  Grace  herself?  How  does  she  feel  about 
it?  Has  he  spoken  to  her?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  guess  likely  he  has.  Perhaps 
that's  why  she's  been  so  sort  of  mournful  lately. 
But  never  mind  whether  he  has  or  not;  I  won't  do  it 
and  I  told  him  so.  He  got  red  hot  in  a  jiffy.  I  was 
ungrateful  and  stubborn  and  all  sorts  of  things.  And 
I,  bein'  a  Hammond,  with  some  of  the  Hammond 
balkiness  in  me,  I  set  my  foot  down  as  hard  as  his. 
And  we  had  it  until — until — well,  until  I  saw  him 

170 


TROUBLES    MULTIPLY 

stagger  and  tremble  so  that  I  actually  got  scared  and 
feared  he  was  goin'  to  keel  over  where  he  stood. 

"  '  Why  can't  you?  '  he  kept  sayin'.  '  But  why 
can't  you?  Ain't  she  a  girl  anyone  would  be  proud 
to  have  for  a  wife?'  'Course  there  was  no  answer 
to  that  but  yes.  Then  back  he  comes  again  with 
'  Then  why  can't  you  ?  '  At  last,  bein'  frightened, 
as  I  said,  that  he  might  have  another  shock  or  some- 
thin',  I  said  I'd  think  it  over  and  come  away  and 
left  him.  And  I  come  straight  to  you.  Keziah, 
what  shall  I  do?  What  can  you  say  to  help  me?  " 

Keziah  was  silent.  She  was  looking,  not  at  her 
companion,  but  at  the  carpet  center  of  one  of  the 
braided  rugs  on  the  floor.  Her  face  was  very  grave 
and  the  lines  about  her  mouth  seemed  to  deepen. 
Her  hands,  clasped  in  her  lap,  tightened  one  upon 
the  other.  But  her  voice  was  calm  when,  at  last,  she 
spoke. 

"  Nat,"  she  said,  "  there's  only  one  thing  I  can 
say.  And  that's  what  your  father  said:  Why  can't 


you? 


The  captain  sprang  from  his  chair. 
"What?"  he  cried  incredulously.     "What  are 
you  sayin'?  " 

"  Just  what  your  father  said,  Nat.     Why  can't 

you  marry  Grace?   She's  a  dear,  good  girl  and 

'  That  be — keelhauled !     Keziah  Coffin,  you  sit 
there  and  ask  me  why  I  can't  marry  her!     You  do?  " 
1  Yes,  Nat." 

"  Keziah,  you're  crazy!  Don't  talk  to  me  like 
that.  We're  not  jokin'  now.  You  know  why  I  can't 
marry  her,  nor  anyone  else  in  this  round  world  but 
you." 

"  Nat,  I  can't  marry  you." 
171 


"  I  know,  I  know.  You're  always  sayin'  that. 
But  you  don't  mean  it.  You  can't  mean  it.  Why, 
you  and  me  have  been  picked  out  for  each  other  by 
the  Almighty,  Keziah.  I  swear  I  believe  just  that. 
We  went  together  when  we  were  boy  and  girl,  to 
parties  and  such.  We  was  promised  when  I  first 
went  to  sea.  If  it  hadn't  been  for  that  fool  row 
we  had — and  'twas  all  my  fault  and  I  know  it— 
you  never  would  have  let  that  da — that  miserable 
Anse  Coffin  come  near  you.  And  when  'twas  too  late 
and  you'd  married  him,  the  mean,  drunken, 
cruel " 

"Hush,  Nat!  hush!    Stop  it!" 

"  He  was,  and  you  know  he  was.  Yes,  and  worse 
besides.  Runnin'  off  and  leavin'  a  wife  like  you  to — 
Oh,  my  God !  when  I  think  /  might  have  been  your 
husband  to  look  out  for  you  and  take  care  of  you ! 
That  you  might  have  been  with  me  on  board  my 
ships.  That,  when  I  come  down  the  companion  on 
stormy  nights  I  might  have  found  you  there  to  com 
fort  me  and —  O  Keziah !  \ve  aren't  young  any 
more.  What's  the  use  of  foolin'?  I  want  you.  I'm 
goin'  to  have  you.  Coffin  is  dead  these  ten  years. 
When  I  heard  he  was  drowned  off  there  in  Singa 
pore,  all  I  could  say  was :  '  Serve  him  right !  '  And 
I  say  it  now.  I  come  home  then  more  determined  to 
get  you.  Say  yes,  and  let's  be  happy.  Do !  " 

"  I  can't,  Nat." 

"  Why  not?  For  Heaven  sakes  !  why  not?  Don't 
you  care  for  me?  You've  let  me  think — well,  at 
any  rate,  I  have  thought  you  did.  You  used  to. 
Don't  you?" 

"  Nat,  I — I  care  for  you  more  than  anybody  else 
on  earth.  But  I  can't  marry  you.  Oh,  don't  keep 

172 


TROUBLES    MULTIPLY 

askin'  it !  Please  don't.  I  can't  marry  you,  Nat. 
No!" 

"  Well,  not  now,  maybe.  Not  this  month,  or 
even  this  year,  perhaps,  but  some  day — 

"  No,  Nat.  You  must  listen.  There's  no  use 
of  this  goin'  on  any  longer.  I  mean  it.  I  can't  marry 
you." 

"  You  won't,  you  mean." 

"  Well,  if  you  wish  to  think  so.     Then  I  won't." 

"  But  by  and  by " 

"  No,  not  by  and  by.     Never,  Nat.     Never." 

He  drew  his  hand  across  his  forehead. 

"  Never!  "  he  repeated,  more  to  himself  than  to 
her. 

"  Never.     Yes,  Nat." 

"  Then,  by  the  everlastin' !  I'll  do  some- 
thin'- 

"  No,  no,  you  won't.  Nat  Hammond,  I  know 
you.  You're  a  great  big,  brave-hearted,  sensible  man. 
You  won't  be  foolish.  You'll  do — yes,  I  think  you'd 
better  do  just  what  your  father  asks  you  to  do. 
Marry  Grace,  if  she  wants  you  and  will  have  you. 
She'll  make  you  a  good  wife;  you'll  learn  to  care  for 
her,  and  I  know  she'll  have  the  best  husband  that  a 
girl  could  hope  for.  And  you  and  I  will  be  friends, 
just  as  we've  always  been,  and " 

"  Keziah,  stop  that!  Stop  it,  do  you  hear!  I 
don't  want  to  listen  to  such  stuff.  I  tell  you  I'm  past 
soft  soap,  and  I  didn't  think  you'd  give  it  to  me." 

"Nat!" 

"  Oh,  yes,  '  Nat ' !  A  lot  you  care  for  '  Nat ' ! 
Not  a  reason  on  God's  footstool  why  you  won't  have 
me — except  one,  and  that  one  that  you  don't  want 
me." 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Please,  Nat!  I  can  hardly  believe  this  is  you. 
This  trouble  with  your  father  has  upset  you.  You 
don't  mean  what  you  say.  You're  not  talkin'  like 
yourself  and— 

"  Stop  it,  I  tell  you.  I  don't  feel  like  myself.  I 
banked  on  you,  Keziah.  I've  lived  for  you.  And 
now—  O  Keziah,  take  it  back !  Give  me  a  little 
hope,  just  enough  to  keep  my  head  above  water." 

"  I'd  like  to,  Nat.  I  only  wish  I  could.  But 
'twouldn't  be  any  use.  I  can't  do  it." 

He  snatched  his  hat  from  the  table  and  strode 
to  the  door.  Turning,  he  looked  at  her. 

"All  right,"  he  said  chokingly.  "All  right. 
Good-by." 

His  steps  sounded  on  the  oilcloth  of  the  kitchen. 
Then  the  back  door  slammed.  He  was  gone. 

Keziah  started,  as  if  the  slam  of  the  door  had 
been  an  electric  shock.  During  the  interview  she  had 
been  pale  and  grave  but  outwardly  calm.  Now  she 
sank  wearily  down  in  the  chair  from  which  she  had 
risen  and  her  head  dropped  forward  upon  her  arms 
on  the  table.  The  letter  she  had  been  reading  before 
Captain  Nat's  arrival  fell  from  her  waist  to  the  floor 
and  lay  there,  its  badly  spelled  and  blotted  lines 
showing  black  and  fateful  against  the  white  paper. 
And  she  cried,  tears  of  utter  loneliness  and  despair. 

The  clouds  thickenefd  as  the  afternoon  passed. 
The  setting  sun  was  hidden  behind  them;  over  the 
horizon  of  ocean  and  bay  the  fog  banks  were  rolling 
in  tumbled,  crumpled  masses.  The  shadows  in  the 
lonely  sitting  room  deepened.  There  came  a  knock 
at  the  dining-room  door. 

Keziah  sprang  from  her  chair,  smoothed  her 
hair,  hastily  wiped  her  eyes,  picked  up  the  dropped 

174 


TROUBLES    MULTIPLY 

letter  and  went  to  admit  the  visitor,  whoever  he  or 
she  might  be.  She  was  glad  of  the  shadows,  they 
prevented  her  face  from  being  seen  too  plainly. 

"  Good  afternoon,"  she  said,  opening  the  door. 
"Oh!  it's  you,  is  it?" 

'  Yes,"  admitted  Abishai  Pepper,  standing  on 
the  stone  step,  and  shifting  uneasily  from  one  foot 
to  the  other.  "  Yes,  Keziah,  it's — it's  me,  thank 
you." 

:'  Don't  mention  it.     Well,  is  Laviny  with  you?  " 

"  No — o,  she  ain't.     She — she  didn't  come." 

"  Hum  !     Did  she  know  you  was  comin'?  " 

"  No— o,  I  don't  cal'late  she  did." 

"  I  see.     Well,  what  do  you  want?  " 

Mrs.  Coffin's  welcome  was  not  too  cordial.  She 
had  laughed  many  times  over  Abishai's  proposal  of 
marriage,  but  she  had  never  quite  forgiven  him  for 
making  her  ridiculous  on  that  occasion.  Incidentally, 
she  did  not  feel  like  laughing. 

;'  What  do  you  want?  "  she  repeated. 

Kyan  was  plainly  nervous. 

"  I  only  wanted  to  see  Mr.  Ellery,"  he  an 
nounced.  "  It's  all  right,  Keziah.  You  needn't  be 
afraid." 

"Afraid!  What  on  earth  should  I  be  afraid 
of?" 

''Why — why,  I  didn't -know  but  you  might  be 
afraid  I  was  goin'  to — to  talk  about  what  we  talked 
about  when  I — I  talked  to  you  that  day  up  at " 

"  There !  that'll  do.  It  ain't  me  that  would  have 
reason  to  be  afraid  if  that  was  what  you  come  for. 
What  do  you  want?  Don't  stand  there  dancin'  a 

jig." 

"  I  only  wanted  to  see  Mr.  Ellery." 
13  175 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  He's  out.     Good  day." 

"  But  I  won't  keep  him  but  a  minute." 

"  He's  out,  I  tell  you.  Do  you  want  to  leave  a 
message?  " 

"  No — o.     No,  I  guess  not." 

"  Was  it  important?  " 

"  Oh !  I  don't  know.  Kind  of,  maybe.  I  wanted 
to  ask  his  advice  about  somethin'.  It's  a  secret. 
Only  him  and  me  know  about  it.  Good-by." 

"  Shall  I  tell  him  you'll  call  again?  Or  ask  him 
to  come  up  to  your  house?  " 

Mr.  Pepper,  who  had  started  to  go,  now  hurried 
back  to  the  steps. 

"  No,  no,"  he  protested,  in  alarm.  "  Don't  you 
tell  him  that.  I  wouldn't  have  him  come  there  for 
no  money.  Why,  Laviny,  she — 

"  Oh,  Laviny  isn't  in  the  secret,  then?  "  Keziah 
smiled  in  spite  of  herself. 

"  Not  exactly.  That  is,  not  much.  Don't  you 
tell  her  I  come  here,  will  you?  I'll  find  Mr.  Ellery. 
I  know  where  he  is." 

"  I  wouldn't  go  to  the  Danielses',  if  I  was  you. 
Elkanah  might  not  like  to  have  you  chasin'  after 
his  visitors." 

"  Oh,  the  minister  ain't  at  the  Danielses',  not  as 
late's  this,  he  ain't.  I  know  where  he  is." 

'You  do?"  The  housekeeper  looked  at  him 
keenly. 

'  Yes,  sir,  I  do.  /  know  where  he  goes  Sunday 
afternoons — and  why  he  goes,  too.  Mr.  Ellery  and 
me's  good  friends.  We  understand  each  other." 

"  Look  here,  Kyan  Pepper !  What  are  you 
talkin'  about?  " 

."Nothin',  nothin'.     Good  day." 
176 


TROUBLES    MULTIPLY 

"Stop!  Stand  still!  Come  in  the  house  here. 
I  want  you  to." 

"  No,  no,  Keziah.  Really,  I'd  love  to,  but  I  can't 
stop." 

"  Come  in,  I  tell  you." 

Reluctantly,  but  lacking  the  strength  of  mind  to 
refuse,  Mr.  Pepper  entered  the  dining  room.  Then 
Mrs.  Coffin  turned  upon  him. 

"  What  do  you  mean,"  she  demanded,  "  by 
throwin'  out  hints  that  the  minister  and  you  are  in 
some  sort  of  secret?  How  dare  you  go  round  tellin' 
people  such  yarns  as  that?  " 

"  They  ain't  yarns.  And  I  never  told  nobody 
afore,  anyhow.  I  got  to  move  along.  I'll— 

"  Stay  where  you  are.  I  guess  I'll  run  right  up 
and  ask  your  sister  about  this.  Perhaps  she 
might— 

"  Ss-sh !  ss-sh!  don't  talk  that  way,  Keziah. 
Don't !  Laviny  don't  know  what  I  mean.  Don't 
go  askin'  her  things." 

"  But  you  said- 

;'  I  just  said  I  knew  where  Mr.  Ellery  goes  every 
Sunday  afternoon.  He  don't  know  anybody  knows, 
but  I  do.  That's  all  there  is  to  it.  I  shan't  tell. 
So " 

"Tell?  Do  you  mean  there's  somethin'  Mr. 
Ellery  wouldn't  want  told?  Don't  you  dare — I  will 
see  Laviny !  " 

"  No,  no,  no,  no !  'Tain't  nothin'  much.  I  just 
know  where  he  goes  after  he  leaves  Elkanah's  and 
who  he  goes  to  meet.  I —  Lordy !  I  hadn't  ought 
to  said  that !  I —  Keziah  Coffin,  don't  you  ever 
tell  I  told  you.  I've  said  more'n  I  meant  to.  If  it 
comes  out  there'd  be  the  biggest  row  in  the  church 

177 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

that  ever  was.  And  I'd  be  responsible !  /  would ! 
I'd  have  to  go  on  the  witness  stand  and  then 
Laviny'd  find  out  how  I—  Oh,  oh,  oh !  what  shall 
I  do?" 

The  poor  frightened  creature's  "  jig "  had,  by 
this  time,  become  a  distracted  fandango.  But  the 
housekeeper  had  no  mercy  on  him.  She  was  begin 
ning  to  fear  for  her  parson  and,  for  the  time,  every 
thing  else,  her  own  trouble  and  the  recent  interview 
with  Nat,  was  pushed  aside. 

"What  is  it?"  she  persisted.  "What  would 
bring  on  the  row  in  the  church?  Who  does  Mr.  El- 
lery  meet?  Out  with  it!  What  do  you  mean?  " 

"  I  mean  that  the  minister  meets  that  Van  Home 
girl  every  Sunday  afternoon  after  he  leaves  El- 
kanah's.  There,  now !  It's  out,  and  I  don't  give  a 
darn  if  they  hang  me  for  it." 

Keziah  turned  white.  She  seized  Mr.  Pepper 
by  the  lapel  of  his  Sunday  coat  and  shook  him. 

"  Grace  Van  Home!  "  she  cried.  "  Mr.  Ellery 
meets  Grace  Van  Home  on  Sunday  afternoons? 
Where?" 

"  Down  in  them  pines  back  of  Peters's  pastur', 
on  the  aidge  of  the  bank  over  the  beach.  He's  met 
her  there  every  Sunday  for  the  last  six  weeks — 
longer,  for  what  I  know.  I've  watched  'em." 

'  You  have?  You  have !  You've  dared  to 
spy  on—  I  think  you're  lyin'  to  me.  I  don't  be 
lieve  it." 

"  I  ain't  lyin' !  It's  so.  I'll  bet  you  anything 
they're  there  now,  walkin'  up  and  down  and  talkin'. 
What  would  I  want  to  lie  for?  You  come  with  me 
this  minute  and  I'll  show  'em  to  you." 

In  the  desire  to  prove  his  veracity  he  was  on  his 
178 


f' 

"Rising  to  peer  over  the  bushes  at  the  minister  and   Grace. 


TROUBLES    MULTIPLY 

way  to  the  door.     But  Keziah  stepped  in  front  of 
him. 

"  'Bish  Pepper,"  she  said  slowly  and  fiercely, 
shaking  a  forefinger  in  his  face,  "  you  go  straight 
home  and  stay  there.  Don't  you  breathe  a  word 
to  a  livin'  soul  of  what  you  say  you've  seen.  Don't 
you  even  think  it,  or — or  dream  it.  If  you  do  I'll— 
I'll  march  straight  to  Laviny  and  tell  her  that  you 
asked  me  to  marry  you.  I  will,  as  sure  as  you're 
shakin'  in  front  of  me  this  minute.  Now  you  swear 
to  me  to  keep  still.  Swear !  " 

"How — /zoro'll  I  swear?"  begged  Kyan. 
"What  do  you  say  when  you  swear?  I'll  say  it, 
Keziah!  I'll  say  anything!  I'll- 

"  All  right.  Then  mind  you  remember.  Now 
clear  out  quick.  I  want  to  think.  I  must  think. 
Go!  Get  out  of  my  sight !  " 

Kyan  went,  glad  to  escape,  but  frightened  to  the 
soul  of  him.  Keziah  watched  him  until  he  turned 
from  the  main  road  into  the  lighthouse  lane.  Then, 
certain  that  he  really  was  going  straight  home,  she 
reentered  the  parsonage  and  sat  down  in  the  nearest 
chair.  For  ten  minutes  she  sat  there,  striving  to 
grasp  the  situation.  Then  she  rose  and,  putting  on 
her  bonnet  and  shawl,  locked  the  dining-room  door, 
and  went  out  through  the  kitchen.  On  the  step 
she  looked  cautiously  back  to  see  if  any  of  the  neigh 
bors  were  at  their  windows.  But  this  was  Sunday, 
the  one  day  when  Trumet  people  sat  in  their  front 
parlors.  The  coast  was  clear.  She  hurried  through 
the  back  yard,  and  down  the  path  leading  across  the 
fields.  She  was  going  to  the  pine  grove  by  the  shore, 
going  to  find  out  for  herself  if  Kyan's  astonishing 
story  was  true. 

179 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

For  If  it  was  true,  if  the  Rev.  John  Ellery  was 
meeting  clandestinely  the  adopted  daughter  of  Eben 
Hammond,  it  meant — what  might  it  not  mean, 
in  Trumet?  If  he  had  fallen  in  love  with  a  Come- 
Outer,  with  Grace  Van  Home  of  all  people,  if  he 
should  dare  think  of  marrying  her,  it  would  mean  the 
utter  wreck  of  his  career  as  a  Regular  clergyman. 
His  own  society  would  turn  him  out  instantly.  All 
sorts  of  things  would  be  said,  lies  and  scandal  would 
be  invented  and  believed.  His  character  would  be 
riddled  by  the  Trumet  gossips  and  the  papers  would 
publish  the  result  broadcast. 

And  Grace!  If  she  loved  a  Regular  minister, 
what  would  happen  to  her?  Captain  Eben  would 
turn  her  from  his  door,  that  was  certain.  Although 
he  idolized  the  girl,  Keziah  knew  that  he  would 
never  countenance  such  a  marriage.  And  if  Nat 
stood  by  Grace,  as  he  would  be  almost  sure  to  do, 
the  breach  between  father  and  son  would  widen  be 
yond  healing.  If  it  were  merely  a  matter  of  personal 
selection,  Mrs.  Coffin  would  rather  have  seen  her 
parson  marry  Grace  than  anyone  else  on  earth.  As 
it  was,  such  a  match  must  not  be.  It  meant  ruin  for 
both.  She  must  prevent  the  affair  going  further. 
She  must  break  off  the  intimacy.  She  must  save  those 
two  young  people  from  making  a  mistake  which 
would —  She  wrung  her  hands  as  she  thought  of  it. 
Of  her  own  sorrow  and  trouble  she  characteristically 
thought  nothing  now.  Sacrifice  of  self  was  a  part  of 
Keziah's  nature. 

The  pines  were  a  deep-green  blotch  against  the 
cloudy  sky  and  the  gloomy  waters  of  the  bay.  She 
skirted  the  outlying  clumps  of  bayberry  and  beach 
plum  bushes  and  entered  the  grove.  The  pine  nee- 

180 


TROUBLES    MULTIPLY 

dies  made  a  soft  carpet  which  deadened  her  footfalls, 
and  the  shadows  beneath  the  boughs  were  thick  and 
black.  She  tiptoed  on  until  she  reached  the  clearing 
by  the  brink  of  the  bluff.  No  one  was  in  sight.  She 
drew  a  breath  of  relief.  Kyan  might  be  mistaken, 
after  all. 

Then  she  heard  low  voices.  As  she  crouched  at 
the  edge  of  the  grove,  two  figures  passed  slowly 
across  the  clearing,  along  the  bush-bordered  path  and 
into  the  shrubbery  beyond.  John  Ellery  was  walking 
with  Grace  Van  Home.  He  was  holding  her  hand 
in  his  and  they  were  talking  very  earnestly. 

Keziah  did  not  follow.  What  would  have  been 
the  use?  This  was  not  the  time  to  speak.  She  knew 
now  and  she  knew,  also,  that  the  responsibility  was 
hers.  She  must  go  home  at  once,  go  home  to  be 
alone  and  to  think.  She  tiptoed  back  through  the 
grove  and  across  the  fields. 

Yet,  if  she  had  waited,  she  might  have  seen  some 
thing  else  which  would  have  been,  at  least,  interest 
ing.  She  had  scarcely  reached  the  outer  edge  of  the 
grove  when  another  figure  passed  stealthily  along 
that  narrow  path  by  the  bluff  edge.  A  female  figure 
treading  very  carefully,  rising  to  peer  over  the  bushes 
at  the  minister  and  Grace.  The  figure  of  Miss  An 
nabel  Daniels,  the  "  belle  "  of  Trumet.  And  An 
nabel's  face  was  not  pleasant  to  look  upon. 


CHAPTER    XI 

IN     WHICH     CAPTAIN     EBEN     RECEIVES     A     CALLER 

A  the  edge  of  the  bluff,  just  where  the  pines 
and  the  bayberry  bushes  were  thickest,  where 
the  narrow,  crooked  little  footpath  dipped 
over  the  rise  and  down  to  the  pasture  land  and  the 
salt  meadow,  John  Ellery  and  Grace  had  halted  in 
their  walk.  It  was  full  tide  and  the  miniature  break 
ers  plashed  amid  the  seaweed  on  the  beach.  The 
mist  was  drifting  in  over  the  bay  and  the  gulls  were 
calling  sleepily  from  their  perch  along  the  break 
water.  A  night  hawk  swooped  and  circled  above  the 
tall  "  feather  grass  "  by  the  margin  of  the  creek. 
The  minister's  face  was  pale,  but  set  and  determined, 
and  he  was  speaking  rapidly. 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  he  said.  "  I  can't  help  it.  I 
have  made  up  my  mind  and  nothing  can  change  it, 
nothing  but  you.  It  rests  with  you.  If  you  say  yes, 
then  nothing  else  matters.  Will  you  say  it?  " 

He  was  holding  both  her  hands  now,  and  though 
she  tried  to  withdraw  them,  he  would  not  let  her. 

;<  Will  you?  "he  pleaded. 

"  I  can't,"  she  answered  brokenly.  "  I  can't. 
Think  of  your  church  and  of  your  people.  What 
would  they  say  if— 

"  I  don't  care  what  they  say." 

"  Oh!  yes,  you  do.  Not  now,  perhaps,  but  later 
182 


A    CALLER 

you  will.  You  don't  know  Trumet  as  I  know  it. 
No,  it's  impossible." 

"  I  tell  you  there  is  only  one  impossible  thing. 
That  is  that  I  give  you  up.  I  won't  do  it.  I  can't  do 
it!  Grace,  this  is  life  and  death  for  me.  My 
church — 

He  paused  in  spite  of  himself.  His  church,  his 
first  church !  He  had  accepted  the  call  with  pride 
and  a  determination  to  do  his  best,  the  very  best  that 
was  in  him,  for  the  society  and  for  the  people  whom 
he  was  to  lead.  Some  of  those  people  he  had  learned 
to  love;  many  of  them,  he  felt  sure,  loved  him.  His 
success,  his  popularity,  the  growth  of  the  organiza 
tion  and  the  praise  which  had  come  to  him  because 
of  it,  all  these  had  meant,  and  still  meant,  very  much 
to  him.  No  wonder  he  paused,  but  the  pause  was 
momentary. 

"  My  church,"  he  went  on,  "  is  my  work  and  I 
like  it.  I  believe  I've  done  some  good  here  and 
I  hope  to  do  more.  But  no  church  shall  say  whom 
I  shall  marry.  If  you  care  for  me,  Grace,  as  I 
think  and  hope  you  do,  we'll  face  the  church  and 
the  town  together  and  they  will  respect  us  for 
it." 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  Some  of  them  might  respect  you,"  she  said. 
'  They  would  say  you  had  been  led  into  this  by  me 
and  were  not  so  much  to  blame.  But  I— 

"  They  shall  respect  my  wife,"  he  interrupted, 
snapping  his  teeth  together,  "  or  I'll  know  the  reason 
why." 

She  smiled  mournfully. 

"  I  think  they'll  tell  you  the  reason,"  she  an 
swered.  "No,  John,  no!  we  mustn't  think  of  it. 

183 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

You  can  see  we  mustn't.  This  has  all  been  a  mis 
take,  a  dreadful  mistake,  and  I  am  to  blame 
for  it." 

"  The  only  mistake  has  been  our  meeting  in  this 
way.  We  should  have  met  openly;  I  realize  it,  and 
have  felt  it  for  sometime.  It  was  my  fault,  not 
yours.  I  was  afraid,  I  guess.  But  I'll  not  be  a  cow 
ard  any  longer.  Come,  dear,  let's  not  be  afraid 
another  day.  Only  say  you'll  marry  me  and  I'll  pro 
claim  it  openly,  to-night—  Yes,  from  the  pulpit,  if 
you  say  so." 

She  hesitated  and  he  took  courage  from  her  hesi 
tation. 

"  Say  it,"  he  pleaded.     "  You  ™7/  say  it?  " 

"  I  can't!     I  can't!     My  uncle " 

"  Your  uncle  shall  hear  it  from  me.  We'll  go  to 
him  together.  I'll  tell  him  myself.  He  worships 
you." 

"  Yes,  I  know.  He  does  worship  me.  That's 
why  I  am  sure  he  had  rather  see  me  dead  than  mar 
ried  to  you,  a  Regular,  and  a  Regular  minister." 

"  I  don't  believe  it.  He  can't  be  so  unreasonable. 
If  he  is,  then  you  shouldn't  humor  such  bigotry." 

"  He  has  been  my  father  for  years,  and  a  dear, 
kind  father." 

''  I  know.  That's  why  I'm  so  certain  we  can 
make  him  understand.  Come,  dear!  come!  Why 
should  you  consider  everyone  else?  Consider  your 
own  happiness.  Consider  mine." 

She  looked  at  him. 

"  I  am  considering  yours,"  she  said.  "  That  is 
what  I  consider  most  of  all.  And,  as  for  uncle,  I 
know — I  know  he  would  never  consent.  His  heart 

is  set  on  something  else.       Nat " 

184 


A    CALLER 

"Nat?  Are  you  considering  him,  too  ?  Is  he  to 
stand  between  us?  What  right  has  he  to  say— 

"Hush!  hush!  He  hasn't  said  anything.  But 
—but  he  and  uncle  have  quarreled,  just  a  little.  I 
didn't  tell  you,  but  they  have.  And  I  think  I  know 
the  reason.  Nat  is  Uncle  Eben's  idol.  If  the  quarrel 
should  grow  more  serious,  I  believe  it  would  break 
his  heart.  I  couldn't  bear  to  be  the  cause  of  that;  I 
should  never  forgive  myself." 

"  You  the  cause?  How  could  you  be  the  cause 
of  a  quarrel  between  those  two?  Grace,  think  of 
me." 

Here  was  the  selfishness  of  man  and  the  unselfish 
ness  of  woman  answered. 

"  John,"  she  said,  "  it  is  of  you  I  am  thinking. 
Everything  else  could — might  be  overcome,  perhaps. 
But  I  must  think  of  your  future  and  your  life.  I 
must.  That  is  why — 

He  did  not  wait  to  hear  more.  He  seized  her  in 
his  arms  and  kissed  her. 

"  Then  you  do  care!  "  he  cried  joyfully.  '  You 
will  marry  me?  " 

For  an  instant  she  lay  quiet  in  his  embrace,  re 
ceiving,  if  not  responding  to  his  caresses.  Then  she 
gently  but  firmly  freed  herself.  He  saw  that  there 
were  tears  in  her  eyes. 

"  Grace,"  he  urged,  "  don't — don't  hesitate  any 
longer.  You  were  meant  to  be  my  wife.  We  were 
brought  together  for  just  that.  I  know  it.  Come." 

She  was  crying  softly. 

"  Won't  you?  "  he  begged. 

"I  don't  know,"  she  sobbed.  "Oh,  I  don't 
know !  I  must  think — I  must!  Wait,  please  wait, 
John.  Perhaps  by  to-morrow  I  can  answer.  I'll  try 

185 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

— I'll  try.  Don't  ask  me  again,  now.  Let  me  think. 
Oh,  do!" 

Doubtless  he  would  have  asked  her  again.  He 
looked  as  if  he  meant  to.  But  just  then,  drifting 
through  the  twilight  and  the  mist,  came  the  sound  of 
a  bell,  the  bell  of  the  Regular  church,  ringing  for  the 
Sunday  evening  meeting.  They  both  heard  it. 

"Oh!"  exclaimed  Grace,  "that  is  your  bell. 
You  will  be  late.  You  must  go,  and  so  must  I. 
Good  night." 

She  started  down  the  path.  He  hesitated,  then 
ran  after  her. 

"To-morrow?"  he  questioned  eagerly.  'To 
morrow,  then,  you'll  say  that  you  will?  " 

"  Oh,  perhaps,  perhaps !  I  mustn't  promise. 
Good  night." 

It  was  after  seven  when  Grace  reached  the  old 
tavern.  The  housekeeper,  Mrs.  Poundberry,  was 
anxiously  awaiting  her.  She  wore  her  bonnet  and 
Sunday  gown  and  was  evidently  ready  to  go  out. 

"  Land  sakes  alive!  "  she  sputtered.  "  Where  in 
the  name  of  goodness  have  you  been  to?  I  was  get- 
tin'  scairt.  Didn't  know  but  you'd  run  off  and  got 
married,  or  sunthin'  dreadful." 

Grace  was  thankful  that  the  cloudy  twilight 
made  it  impossible  to  see  her  face  distinctly.  The 
housekeeper  rattled  on  without  waiting  for  an  an 
swer. 

"  Supper's  on  the  table  and  the  kittle's  abilin'. 
You  better  eat  in  a  hurry,  'cause  it's  meetin'  time  now. 
Your  uncle,  he  started. ten  minutes  ago.  I'm  agoin' 
right  along,  too,  but  I  ain't  goin'  to  meetin';  I'm 
agoin'  up  to  Betsy  E.'s  to  stay  all  night.  She's  got 
a  spine  in  her  back,  as  the  feller  said,  and  ain't  feelin' 

186 


A    CALLER 

good,  so  I  told  her  I'd  come  and  stay  a  little 
spell.  S'pose  you  can  get  along  to-morrow  without 
me?" 

"  Betsy  E."  was  Mrs.  Poundberry's  second 
cousin,  an  elderly  spinster  living  alone  in  a  little 
house  near  the  salt  works.  Grace  assured  her  ques 
tioner  that  she  could  attend  to  the  house  and  the 
meals  during  the  following  day,  longer  if  the  trouble 
some  "spine"  needed  company.  Mrs.  Poundberry 
sighed,  groaned,  and  shook  her  head. 

"  I  shan't  stay  no  longer,"  she  affirmed;  "not  if 
Betsy's  all  over  spines,  like  one  of  them  Mexican 
cactus  plants.  No,  marm,  my  place  is  right  here  and 
I  know  it.  Your  Uncle  Eben's  mighty  feeble  and 
peaked  lately.  He  ain't  long  for  this  world,  I'm 
afraid.  You'd  ought  to  be  awful  good  to  him, 
Grade." 

"  I  know  it,"  was  the  hurried  reply.  "  Where's 
Nat?" 

"  I  don't  know.  Can't  keep  track  of  him. 
Might's  well  try  to  put  your  finger  on  a  flea.  He's 
here  to-day  and  gone  yesterday,  as  the  Scriptur'  says. 
He  ate  a  little  mite  of  supper,  but  not  much,  and  then 
off  he  puts.  Says  he's  goin'  to  walk  the  fog  out'n  his 
head.  I  told  him,  s'  I,  '  You'll  walk  a  plaguey  sight 
more  in  than  you  do  out,  this  night,'  but  he  went  just 
the  same.  He  was  dreadful  kind  of  dumpy  and  blue 
this  evenin'.  Seemed  to  be  sort  of  soggy  in  his  mind. 
And  why  he  never  went  to  meetin'  with  his  dad  and 
why  his  dad  never  asked  him  to  go  is  more'n  I  can 
tell.  Land  of  livin',  how  I  do  gabble !  My  grand- 
marm  used  to  say  my  tongue  was  loose  at  both  ends 
and  hung  in  the  middle,  and  I  guess  she  wa'n't  fur 
off  the  course.  Good-by.  Take  care  of  yourself. 

187 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

You  can  put  what's  left  of  that  mock  mince  pie  on 
the  top  shelf  in  the  butt'ry  and  you'd  better  heave  a 
dish  towel  or  sunthin'  over  it  to  keep  the  ants  out. 
There's  more  ants  in  this  house  than  there  is  dollars, 
a  good  sight.  Betsy  E.,  she's  got  a  plan  for  keepin' 
of  'em  out  by  puttin'  sassers  of  brimstone  round  the 
shelves,  but  I  told  her,  s'  I,  '  Them  ants  don't  care 
for  no  brimstone.  They're  used  to  it.  Sometimes  I 
b'lieve  they're  sent  by  the  everlastin'  father  of  brim 
stone,'  and  she " 

She  had  reached  the  gate  by  this  time,  and  Grace 
shut  off  the  flow  of  conversation  by  closing  the  door. 
Then  she  took  a  candle  from  the  row  on  the  dining- 
room  mantel,  lighted  it,  and  went  up  to  her  own 
room.  Standing  before  the  old-fashioned  bureau 
with  its  little  oval  mirror,  she  hastily  arranged  her 
hair.  She  did  not  wish  to  go  to  the  prayer  meeting 
at  the  chapel,  but  she  felt  that  she  must.  The 
Come-Outer  gatherings,  with  their  noisy  singing  and 
shouting,  had  grown  more  and  more  repugnant  to 
her. 

And  to-night,  of  all  nights !  How  could  she 
meet  those  people  who  had  known  her  since  she  was 
a  child,  who  boasted  of  her  as  one  of  their  staunchest 
adherents,  who  believed  in  her  and  trusted  her? 
How  could  she  meet  them  and  talk  with  them,  know 
ing  what  she  knew  and  realizing  that  they,  too, 
would  know  it  on  the  morrow  ?  But  her  uncle  would 
miss  her  and  be  worried  about  her  if  she  did  not 
come.  She  could  not  bear  to  trouble  him  now;  she 
never  loved  him  so  dearly,  was  never  so  anxious 
to  humor  his  every  wish  as  on  this,  perhaps  the 
last  evening  they  would  spend  together.  For, 
though  she  would  not  yet  admit  it,  even  to  her- 

188 


A    CALLER 

self,  her  decision  was  made,  had  really  been  made 
the  first  time  John  Ellery  asked  her  weeks  before. 
Only  the  thought  of  what  might  happen  to  him 
if  she  consented  had  caused  her  to  hesitate  so 
long. 

She  blew  out  the  candle  and  came  out  into  the 
hall  at  the  head  of  the  stairs.  She  was  about  to  de 
scend  when  she  heard  voices.  The  door  of  the  din 
ing  room  opened  and  closed.  She  felt  certain  that 
Nat  had  returned  and  wondered  who  was  with  him. 
Then  she  heard  her  uncle's  voice,  speaking  sharply 
and  with  unwonted  sternness. 

"  I  don't  know  what  'tis  you  want  to  see  me 
about,"  said  Captain  Eben.  "  You  say  it's  impor 
tant;  well,  it's  got  to  be  to  keep  me  from  my  meetin'. 
I  ought  to  be  on  the  Lord's  business  this  minute  and 
nothin'  worldly's  goin'  to  keep  me  from  servin'  Him. 
So  speak  quick.  What  is  it?" 

The  voice  that  answered  was  one  that  Grace  rec 
ognized,  though  she  had  never  before  heard  in  it 
the  note  of  agitation  and  undignified  excitement. 
There  were  no  ponderous  pauses  and  "  Hum — ha's  " 
now. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,  Hammond !  "  it  said.  "  And 
don't  stand  there  preaching.  Lock  that  door!  Get 
a  lamp !  Are  you  sure  there's  nobody  but  us  in  the 
house?  " 

Captain  Elkanah  Daniels!  Captain  Elkanah 
visiting  a  Come-Outer!  and  the  leader  of  the  Come- 
Outers!  !  Grace  caught  her  breath.  What  in  the 
world —  She  started  to  descend  and  then  a  thought 
flashed  to  her  mind.  She  stopped  short. 

"  /  ain't  the  fool,  Elkanah,"  she  heard  her  uncle 
retort  sternly.  "  The  fools  are  them  who  are  deef 
14  189 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

to  the  call  from  on  high.  My  foot  was  on  the  thresh 
old  of  His  house  when  you  led  me  astray.  It's  never 
halted  there  afore.  I  warn  you— 

"  Hush  !  Shut  up  !  Can't  you  forget  that — that 
Come-Outer  circus  of  yours  for  a  minute?" 

"  Elkanah  Daniels,  I'll  have  no  blasphemy  here. 
Another  word  like  that  and— 

"Will  you  be  still  and  hear  me?  The  Lord's 
business !  I  guess  you'll  think  it's  the  Lord's  business 
when  you  understand  what  I'm  going  to  tell  you ! 
The  Lord's  business !  The  devil's  business,  you  bet 
ter  say!  Will  you  lock  that  door?  " 

"  My  church  is  waitin'  for  me  and— 

"  Let  it  wait.  What's  a  parcel  of  yelling  Come- 
Outers  compared  to  the  decency  of  this  town  ?  Stop ! 
Shut  up !  Eben  Hammond,  I  tell  you  that  your 
precious  church — yes  and  mine,  the  Regular  church 
of  Trumet — will  go  to  rack  and  ruin  if  you  and  me 
don't  pull  together  this  night." 

"  And  I  tell  you,  Elkanah  Daniels,  I'll  have  no 
blasphemy  here.  That  little  sanctuary  up  the  road 
is  founded  on  a  rock  and  neither  you  nor  any  of  your 
Phariseein'  priest-worshipin'  crew  can  shake  it.  The 
Almighty'll  protect  His  own.  As  for  the  Reg'lar 
church,  that's  no  concern  of  mine." 

"  But  I  tell  you  'tis  your  concern.  Or  if  the 
church  isn't,  your  own  family  is." 

"My— my  family?" 

'  Yes,  your  own  family.  Huh !  that  makes  you 
listen,  don't  it?  " 

There  was  an  instant  of  silence.  Grace,  crouch 
ing  on  the  stairs,  noticed  the  change  in  her  uncle's 
voice  as  he  answered. 

''  My  own  family?"  he  repeated  slowly.     "  My 
190 


A    CALLER 

own —  And  the  Reg'lar  church —  What  do  you 
mean?  Has  Nat— 

"  No,  he  ain't.  But  that  cussed  girl  of 
yours — 

"  Stop !  "  Eben's  shout  rang  through  the  house. 
The  listener  heard  it,  rose,  and  then  sank  slowly  to 
her  knees. 

"  Stop  !  "  shouted  Captain  Hammond.  "  El- 
kanah  Daniels,  for  your  own  sake  now,  be  careful. 
If  you  dast  to  say  a  word,  another  word  like  that, 

rn- 

"  If  I  dast!  The  hussy!  But  there's  no  use 
talkin'  to  you.  You're  as  crazy  as  a  Bedlamite. 
Either  that,  or  you're  in  the  game  with  her.  If  you 
are,  I  warn  you " 

"Stop!  What  game?  What  do  you  mean? 
Gracie  !  My  Grace!  What  is  it?  For  mercy  sakes, 
Elkanah- 

"  Humph !  I  wondered  if  I  couldn't  get  some 
sense  into  you,  finally.  Lock  that  door!  " 

"I  will!     I  will!     ButElkanah- 

"  Lock  it !     Give  me  the  key  !  " 

The  click  of  the  lock  sounded  sharply. 

"Where's  the  lamp?"  demanded  Daniels. 
"And  the  matches?  Don't  stand  there  shaking." 

A  smell  of  sulphur  floated  out  into  the  hall. 
Then  the  sickly  glow  of  the  "  fluid "  lamp  shone 
through  the  doorway. 

"What  ails  you?"  asked  Elkanah.  "Are  you 
struck  dumb?  Now  go  and  see  if  there's  anybody 
else  in  the  house." 

"  But — but  there  ain't.  I  know  there  ain't. 
Hannah's  gone  and  Grade's  at  meetin'  by  this  time." 

"  She?  Humph!  Well,  maybe  she's  at  meeting 
191 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

and  maybe  she  isn't.  Maybe  she's  over  in  Peters's 
pines,  hugging  and  kissing  that  man  she's  met  there 
every  Sunday  for  I  don't  know  how  long —  Here ! 
let  go,  you  old  fool !  Let  go,  I  tell  you !  " 

A  chair  fell  to  the  floor  with  a  bang.  There  was 
the  sound  of  hard  breathing  and  rapid  footsteps. 

"Let  go!"  panted  Daniels.  "Are  you  crazy? 
Take  your  hands  off  me !  " 

"  You  liar!  "  snarled  Captain  Eben.  "  You  low 
lived  liar!  By  the  Almighty,  Elkanah  Daniels! 
I'll —  You  take  that  back  or  I'll  choke  the  ever- 
lastin'  soul  out  of  you.  I  will— 

"Let  go,  you  lunatic!  You'll  kill  yourself. 
Listen !  I'm  not  lying.  It's  the  truth.  She's  met  a 
man,  I  tell  you.  Been  meeting  him  for  months,  I 
guess.  There!  now  will  you  listen?  " 

The  footsteps  had  ceased,  but  the  heavy  breath 
ing  continued. 

"A  man!"  gasped  Eben.  "A  man!  Gracie ! 
It's  a —  Who  is  he?  What's  his  name?  " 

"  His  name's  John  Ellery,  and  he's  minister  of 
the  Regular  church  in  this  town ;  that's  who  he  is ! 
Here !  hold  up !  Good  Lord !  are  you  dying  ?  Hold 
up!" 

The  girl  on  the  stairs  sprang  to  her  feet.  Her 
head  was  reeling  and  she  could  scarcely  stand,  but 
she  blindly  began  the  descent.  She  must  go  to  her 
uncle.  She  must.  But  Captain  Daniels's  voice 
caused  her  to  halt  once  more. 

'There!   there!"    it   said   in   a   tone   of   relief. 
'  That's  better.     Set  still  now.     Be  quiet,  that's  it. 
Shall  I  get  some  water?  " 

"No,  no!  let  me  be.  Just  let  me  be.  I  ain't 
what  I  used  to  be  and  this —  I'm  all  right,  I  tell 

192 


A    CALLER 

you.     Grace !     And — and—      What  was  it  you  just 
said?     I — I  don't  b'lieve  I  heard  it  right." 

"  I  said  that  daughter  of  yours,  or  niece,  or  what 
ever  she  is,  this  Grace  Van  Home,  has  been  meeting 
young  Ellery,  our  minister,  in  Peters's  grove.  Been 
meeting  him  and  walking  with  him,  and  kissing  him, 
and- 

"  It's  a  lie!  It  ain't  so,  Elkanah!  Prove  it  or— 
It — it  can't  be  so,  can  it?  Please— 

"  It  is  so.  She's  met  him  in  those  pines  every 
Sunday  afternoon  for  a  long  time.  She  was  seen 
there  with  him  this  afternoon." 

"Who— who  saw  her?" 

"  Never  mind.  The  one  that  did'll  never  tell — • 
unless  it's  necessary.  They're  fixing  to  be  married, 
and- 

"  Married!  She  marry  a  Reg'lar  minister! 
Oh- 

"  Hush  !  Listen!  They  ain't  married  yet.  We 
can  stop  'em,  you  and  I,  if  we  get  right  to  work.  It 
isn't  too  late.  Will  you  help?" 

"  Will  I— I-      Go  on !  tell  me  more." 

"  We  can  stop  'em.  I  know  it  would  be  a  good 
catch  for  her,  the  sneaking,  designing —  Well, 
never  mind.  But  it  can't  be.  It  shan't  be.  You've 
got  to  tell  her  so,  Hammond.  We  folks  of  the 
Regular  church  have  pride  in  our  society;  we  won't 
have  it  disgraced.  And  we  have  been  proud  of  our 
minister,  the  young,  rattle-headed  fool !  We'll  save 
him  if  we  can.  If  \ve  can't  "  —the  speaker's  teeth 
grated — "  then  we'll  send  him  to  eternal  smash  or 
die  trying." 

"  But  I  can't  believe  it's  true.  It's  a  mistake; 
some  other  girl  and  not  Gracie.  Why,  she  don't 

193 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

even  know  him.  She  wouldn't—  But  she  has  been 
out  every  Sunday  afternoon  for  weeks.  If  it  should 
be!" 

"  It  is.  I  tell  you  it  is.  Don't  waste  time  rolling 
your  eyes  and  talking  stuff.  We've  got  to  work  and 
you've  got  to  work  first.  I  don't  know  whether 
you're  only  making  believe  or  not.  I  realize  that 
'twould  be  a  good  thing  for  your  girl  to  marry  a 
promising  young  chap  like  him,  but —  Hush  !  let  me 
go  on.  I  tell  you,  Hammond,  it  can't  be.  We  won't 
let  her.  /  won't  let  her.  I'm  a  man  of  influence  in 
this  town,  and  outside  of  it,  too.  I'm  head  of  the 
parish  committee  and  a  member  of  the  National 
Regular  Society.  I  can't  reach  your  precious  ward, 
maybe,  but  I  can  reach  the  fellow  she's  after,  and  if 
he  marries  her,  I'll  drive  'em  both  to  the  poorhouse. 

"  Here's  where  you  come  in,  Hammond.  It  may 
be  she  does  really  care  for  him.  Or  maybe  she's 
after  position  and  money.  Well,  you  talk  to  her. 
You  tell  her  that  if  she  keeps  on  going  with  him,  if 
she  doesn't  break  off  this  damnable  business  now,  to 
morrow,  I'll  ruin  John  Ellery  as  sure  as  I'm  a  living 
man.  He'll  be  ruined  in  Trumet,  anyhow.  He'll  be 
thrown  out  by  the  parish  committee.  I'm  not  sure 
that  his  church  people  won't  tar  and  feather  him. 
Marrying  a  low-down  Come-Outer  hussy!  As  if 
there  wa'n't  decent  girls  of  good  families  he  might 
have  had !  But  losing  this  church  won't  be  the  only 
thing  that'll  happen  to  him.  The  committee'll  see 
that  he  doesn't  get  another  one.  I'll  use  my  influ 
ence  and  have  him  thrown  out  of  the  Regular  min 
istry.  Think  I  can't?  What  sort  of  yarns  do  you 
suppose  will  be  told  about  him  and  her,  meeting  the 
way  they  did  ?  Won't  the  county  papers  print  some 

194 


A    CALLER 

fine  tales?  Won't  the  Boston  ones  enjoy  such  a  scan 
dal?  I  tell  you,  Eben  Hammond,  that  young  chap's 
name  will  be  dragged  so  deep  in  the  mud  it'll  never 
get  clean  again." 

He  stopped  for  breath.  His  companion  was 
silent.  After  a  moment,  he  continued: 

"  You  tell  her  that,  Hammond,"  he  went  on. 
"  If  she  really  cares  for  him,  it'll  be  enough.  She 
won't  let  him  ruin  his  life.  And  I'll  keep  quiet  till  I 
hear  from  you.  If  she's  sensible  and  really  decent, 
then  she  can  give  him  his  clearance  papers  without 
his  knowing  why  she  did  it  and  everything  will  be  a 
secret  and  kept  so.  Nobody  else'll  ever  know.  If 
she  won't  do  that,  then  you  tell  me  and  I'll  have  a 
session  with  him.  If  that's  no  good,  then  out  he  goes 
and  she  with  him;  and  it's  ruination  for  both  of  'em, 
reputations  and  all.  Why  am  I  doing  this?  I'll  tell 
you.  I  like  him.  He  isn't  orthodox  enough  to  suit 
me,  but  I  have  liked  him  mighty  well.  And  Annab — 
Humph  !  that's  neither  here  nor  there.  What  I'm 
fighting  for  is  the  Trumet  Regular  church.  That's 
my  church  and  I'll  have  no  dirty  scandal  with  Come- 
Outers  dragging  it  down.  Now  you  understand. 
Will  you  tell  her  what  I've  said?  " 

The  chair  creaked.  Evidently,  Captain  Eben 
was  rising  slowly  to  his  feet. 

"Well?"  repeated  Elkanah. 

"  Elkanah  Daniels,"  said  Eben  slowly,  his  voice 
shaking  from  nervous  exhaustion  and  weakness,  but 
with  a  fine  ring  of  determination  in  every  word,  "  El 
kanah  Daniels,  you  listen  to  me.  I've  heard  you 
through.  If  your  yarn  is  true,  then  my  heart  is  broke, 
and  I  wish  I  might  have  died  afore  I  heard  it.  But 
I  didn't  die  and  I  have  heard  it.  Now  listen  to  me, 

195 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

I  love  that  girl  of  mine  better'n  the  whole  wide  world 
and  yet  I'd  ruther  see  her  dead  afore  me  than  mar 
ried  to  a  Reg'lar  minister.  Disgrace  to  him!  Dis 
grace  to  your  miser'ble  church !  What  about  the  dis 
grace  to  mine?  And  the  disgrace  to  her?  Ruin  to 
your  minister!  Ruin  to  my  girl  here  and  hereafter 
is  what  I'm  thinkin'  of;  that  and  my  people  who  wor 
ship  God  with  me.  I'll  talk  to  Grace.  I'll  talk  to 
her.  But  not  of  what'll  happen  to  him  or  you — or 
any  of  your  cantin',  lip-servin'  crew.  I'll  tell  her  to 
choose  between  him  and  me.  And  if  she  chooses  him, 
I'll  send  her  out  of  that  door.  I'll  do  my  duty  and 
read  her  out  of  my  congregation.  And  I'll  know 
she's  gone  to  everlastin'  hell,  and  that's  worse'n  the 
poorhouse.  That's  all  to-night,  Elkanah.  Now  you 
better  go." 

"  Humph !  Well,  I  declare !  you  are  a  big 
oted " 

"  Stop  it !  I've  kept  my  hands  off  you  so  fur,  be 
cause  I'm  the  Lord's  servant.  But  I'm  fightin'  hard 
to  keep  down  my  old  salt-water  temper.  You  go ! 
There's  the  door." 

"  All  right,  all  right !  /  don't  care  what  you  say, 
so  long  as  it's  said  so  as  to  stop  her  from  getting  him 
— and  said  soon." 

"  It'll  be  said  to-night.  Now  go !  My  people 
are  waitin'  at  the  chapel." 

"  You're  not  going  to  that  prayer  meeting  after 
this?  " 

"  Where  else  should  I  go?     '  Come  unto  Me  all 
ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden.'     And — and  " 
his  voice  broke—  "  He  knows  that  I  am  heavy  laden. 
Lord !  Lord !  do  help  me,  for  this  is  more'n  I  can 
bear  alone." 

196 


A    CALLER 

The  lock  turned;  the  door  opened  and  closed. 
Grace,  clinging  to  the  balusters,  heard  Captain  Ham 
mond  cross  the  room,  slowly  and  feebly.  She  heard 
him  enter  the  sitting  room.  Then  she  heard  nothing 
more,  not  another  sound,  though  the  minutes  dragged 
on  and  on,  endlessly,  eternally,  and  each  with  a  mes 
sage,  a  sentence  repeated  over  and  over  again  in  her 
brain.  "  If  she  really  cares  for  him,  she  won't  let 
him  ruin  his  life." 

By  and  by,  pale,  but  more  composed,  and  with 
her  mind  made  up,  she  came  down  into  the  hall. 
Drawing  a  long  breath,  she  turned  into  the  sitting 
room  to  face  her  uncle.  By  the  light  shining  through 
the  dining-room  door  she  saw  him  on  his  knees  by 
the  haircloth  sofa.  She  spoke  his  name.  He  did  not 
answer  nor  look  up.  Alarmed,  she  touched  him  on 
the  shoulder.  At  her  touch  his  arm  slid  from  the 
couch  and  he  fell  gently  over  upon  his  side  on  the 
carpet. 


CHAPTER    XII 

IN  WHICH   CAPTAIN   EBEN  MAKES   PORT 

HALF  past  eight.  In  the  vestry  of  the 
Regular  church  John  Ellery  was  conduct 
ing  his  prayer  meeting.  The  attendance 
was  as  large  as  usual.  Three  seats,  however,  were 
vacant,  and  along  the  settees  people  were  wondering 
where  Captain  Elkanah  Daniels  and  his  daughter 
might  be.  They  had  not  missed  a  service  for  many 
a  day.  And  where  was  Keziah  Coffin? 

At  the  Come-Outer  chapel  the  testifying  and 
singing  were  in  full  blast.  But  Ezekiel  Bassett  was 
leading,  for  Captain  Eben  Hammond  had  not  made 
his  appearance.  Neither  had  Grace  Van  Home,  for 
that  matter,  but  Captain  Eben's  absence  was  the  most 
astonishing. 

"  Somethin's  the  matter,"  whispered  Josiah 
Badger  to  his  right-hand  neighbor.  "  Somethin's 
wrong  d-d-d-down  to  the  tavern,  sartin'  sure.  I'm 
goin'  down  there  just  soon's  meetin's  over  and 
f-f-f-find  out.  Eben  wouldn't  no  more  miss  leadin' 
his  meetin'  from  choice  than  I'd  go  without  a  meal's 
v-v-vi-vittles.  Somethin's  happened  and  I'm  goin'  to 
know  what  'tis.  You'll  go  along  with  me,  won't  ye, 
Lot?" 

The  answer  was  an  affirmative.  In  fact,  almost 
every  worshiper  in  that  chapel  had  determined  to 

198 


CAPTAIN    EBEN    MAKES    PORT 

visit  the  Hammond  tavern  as  soon  as  the  service  was 
at  an  end. 

In  the  Regular  parsonage  Keziah  sat  alone  by 
the  sitting-room  table.  Prayer  meeting  and  supper 
she  had  forgotten  entirely.  The  minister  had  not 
come  home  for  his  evening  meal,  and  food  was  fur 
thest  from  the  housekeeper's  thoughts.  What  should 
she  do?  What  ought  she  to  do?  How  could  she 
avert  the  disaster  so  certain  to  overwhelm  those 
two  young  people  the  moment  their  secret  became 
known  ? 

It  was  in  vain  that  she  tried  to  encourage  herself 
with  the  hope  that  Kyan  had  exaggerated — that  the 
meetings  in  the  grove  had  not  been  as  frequent  as  he 
said  they  were,  or  that  they  had  been  merely  casual. 
She  knew  better.  She  had  seen  the  pair  together  and 
the  look  in  John  Ellery's  eyes.  No,  the  mischief  was 
done,  they  loved  each  other;  or,  at  least,  he  loved 
her.  There  was  the  great  trouble. 

Keziah,  in  spite  of  her  worldly  common  sense, 
was  an  idealist  at  heart.  Love  matches  she  believed 
in  thoroughly.  If  the  man  had  not  been  a  Regular 
minister,  or  if  he  had  been  a  minister  in  any  other 
town  than  narrow,  gossiping,  squabbling  Trumet, 
where  families  were  divided  on  "  religious  "  grounds, 
neighbors  did  not  speak  because  their  creeds  were 
different,  and  even  after  death  were  buried  in  ceme 
teries  three  miles  apart;  if  the  girl  had  been  other 
than  the  ward  of  bigoted  old  Eben  Hammond- 
then,  though  they  were  poor  as  poverty  itself,  Keziah 
would  have  joined  their  hands  and  rejoiced.  Even 
as  it  was,  she  was  strongly  tempted  to  do  it.  Her 
sense  of  right  and  her  every  inclination  urged  her 

199 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

toward  that  course.  "  Face  the  world  together  and 
fight  it  out,"  that  was  the  advice  she  would  like  to 
give  them.  But  no,  the  battle  was  too  uneven.  The 
odds  were  too  great.  They  must  not  think  of  mar 
riage,  for  the  present,  and  they  must  cease  to 
meet.  Perhaps  some  day — she  tried  to  comfort  her 
self  with  the  thought — perhaps  some  day,  years 
afterwards  and  under  different  circumstances,  they 
might — 

With  Ellery  she  felt  certain  she  could  accomplish 
nothing  by  argument  or  persuasion.  She  knew  him 
well  enough  by  this  time  to  realize  that,  if  his  mind 
was  made  up,  all  Trumet  and  all  creation  could  not 
change  it.  He  would  keep  on  his  course,  and,  if 
wrecked,  wrould  go  down  with  colors  set  and  helm 
lashed.  But  Grace,  perhaps  she  did  not  fully  realize 
the  situation.  She  might  be  made  to  see,  to  listen  to 
reason.  And,  perhaps,  it  was  possible — perhaps,  on 
her  part,  matters  were  not  as  serious.  The  minister 
had  not  acted  like  a  triumphant  lover,  assured  of  suc 
cess;  he  had  seemed,  now  that  she  thought  of  it,  more 
like  a  pleader,  a  supplicant.  Perhaps,  if  she  could 
see  Grace  and  talk  plainly  with  the  girl,  it  might  not 
be  too  late.  She  determined  to  try  that  very  night. 

She  rose  and  again  donned  her  bonnet  and  shawl. 
She  was  about  to  blow  out  the  lamp  when  she  heard 
rapid  footsteps,  the  sound  of  some  one  running  along 
the  sidewalk  in  front  of  the  house.  As  she  listened, 
the  footsteps  sounded  on  the  path.  Whoever  the 
runner  was  he  was  coming  to  the  parsonage.  She 
stepped  to  the  door  and  opened  it. 

The  runner  was  a  boy,  Maria  Higgins's  boy 
Isaac,  whose  widowed  mother  lived  down  by  the 
shore.  He  did  the  chores  at  the  Hammond  tav- 

200 


CAPTAIN    EBEN    MAKES    PORT 

ern.  His  freckled  face  was  dripping  with  perspira 
tion  and  he  puffed  and  blew  like  a  stranded  whale. 

"What's  the  matter,  Ike?"  demanded  Keziah. 
"What  is  it?" 

"  Have  ye — have  ye,"  panted  Ike,  "  have  ye 
seen  the  doctor  anywheres,  Mis  Coffin?" 

"Who?  Dr.  Parker?  Have  I  seen — what  in 
the  world  are  you  comin'  here  after  the  doctor  for?  " 

"  'Cause — 'cause  I  didn't  know  where  else  to 
come.  I  been  to  his  house  and  he  ain't  to  home.  No 
body  ain't  to  home.  His  wife,  Mis  Parker,  she's 
gone  up  to  Boston  yes'day  on  the  coach,  and — and 
it's  all  dark  and  the  house  door's  open  and  the  shay's 
gone,  so— 

"  Who's  sick?     Who  wants  him?  " 

"  And — and — all  the  rest  of  the  houses  round 
here  was  shut  up  'cause  everybody's  to  meetin'.  I 
peeked  in  at  the  meetin'  house  and  he  ain't  there,  and 
I  see  your  light  and 

"  Who's  sick?     Tell  me  that,  won't  you?" 

"  Cap'n  Eben.  He's  awful  sick.  I  cal'late  he's 
goin'  to  die,  and  Gracie,  she — 

"Cap'n  Eben?  Eben  Hammond!  Dyin' ? 
What  are  you  talkin'  about?  " 

"  Huh!  huh!  "  puffed  the  messenger  impatiently. 
"Didn't  I  tell  ye?  Cap'n  Eben's  adyin'.  I  seen 
him.  All  white  and  still  and — and  awful.  And 
Gracie,  she's  all  alone  and — 

"Alone?     Where's  Nat?" 

"  She  don't  know.  He  ain't  to  home.  But  I  got 
to  find  Dr.  Parker." 

"  Hold  on!  Stop!  I'll  tell  you  where  the  doc 
tor  is  most  likely.  Up  to  Mrs.  Prince's.  She's  been 
poorly  and  he's  prob'ly  been  called  there.  Run !  run 

201 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

fast  as  ever  you  can  and  get  him  and  I'll  go  to  Grace 
this  minute.  The  poor  thing !  Have  you  told  any 
body  else?  " 

"  No,  no !  ain't  seen  nobody  but  you  to  tell. 
They  was  prayin'  over  to  meetin',  and  the  fellers 
that  waits  outside  to  keep  comp'ny  with  the  girls 
ain't  got  there  yet.  And  I  never  met  nobody.  And 
'twas  so  blasted  dark  I  fell  down  four  times  and  tore 
my  best  pants  and — 

"S-sh-sh!  Listen  to  me!  Don't  tell  anybody. 
Not  a  soul  but  the  doctor.  Half  this  town'll  be  run- 
nin'  to  find  out  if  you  do,  and  that  poor  girl  must  be 
distracted  already.  I'll  go  to  her.  You  get  Dr. 
Parker  and  tell  him  to  hurry." 

"I'll  tell  him;  don't  you  fret." 

He  was  gone,  running  harder  than  ever.  A  mo 
ment  later  Keziah  followed  him,  running  also. 

It  was  a  misty,  black  night,  and  Trumet  side 
walks  were  uneven  and  hard  to  navigate.  But  she 
stumbled  on,  up  the  main  road  to  the  Corners,  down 
the  "  Turn-off,"  past  the  chapel  of  the  Come-Outers, 
from  the  open  window  of  which  sounded  the  drone 
of  a  high,  nasal  voice.  Josiah  Badger  was  "  testify 
ing,"  and  Keziah  caught  a  fragment  of  the  testimony 
as  she  hurried  by. 

''  I  says  to  'em,  says  I,  I  says  to  'em,  '  I  don't 
care  about  your  smart  mum-mum-minister  and  what 
fine  sermons  he  preaches.  Let  him  be  smart,' 
I  says.  Says  I,  '  Smartness  won't  g-g-g-git  ye 
into  heaven.'  ("Amen!"}  'No,  sirree !  it  takes 
more'n  that.  I've  seen  smart  folks  afore  and  they 
got  c-c-cuk-catched  up  with  sooner  or  later. 
Pride  goes  ahead  of  a  tumble,  I've  heard  tell, 

and 

202 


CAPTAIN    EBEN    MAKES    PORT 

This  was  all  that  Keziah  heard  of  Mr.  Badger's 
testimony,  for,  as  she  ran  on,  a  rattle  of  wheels  and 
the  thud  of  hoofs  came  from  behind  her.  Then  a 
rocking  chaise,  drawn  by  a  galloping  horse,  shot  by. 
Dr.  Parker's  carriage,  she  was  sure.  The  Higgins 
boy  must  have  met  the  doctor  and  delivered  his  mes 
sage. 

The  horse  and  chaise  were  standing  by  the  front 
gate  of  the  tavern  as  she  pantingly  drew  near  it. 
The  side  door  of  the  house  was  ajar  and  she  opened 
it  softly  and  entered.  The  dining  room  was  empty. 
There  was  a  light  on  the  sitting-room  table  and  low 
voices  came  from  the  little  bedroom  adjoining. 
Then,  from  the  bedroom,  emerged  Dr.  Parker  and 
Grace  Van  Home.  The  girl  was  white  and  there 
were  dark  circles  under  her  eyes.  The  doctor  was 
very  grave. 

Keziah  stepped  forward  and  held  out  both 
hands.  Grace  looked,  recognized  her,  and  with  a  cry 
ran  toward  her.  Keziah  took  her  in  her  arms  and 
soothed  her  as  if  she  were  a  child. 

"There!  there!  deary,"  she  said,  stroking  her 
hair.  "  There !  there !  deary,  don't  take  it  so  hard. 
Poor  thing!  you're  worn  out.  If  I'd  only  known 
sooner." 

"  O  Aunt  Keziah!  "  sobbed  the  girl.  "  I'm  so 
glad  you've  come.  It  was  so  good  of  you." 

"  Good!  Land  of  mercy!  If  I  hadn't  come,  I'd 
have  been  worse  than  the  beasts  that  perish.  Don't 
cry,  don't.  How  is  he  now?  Some  better?" 

She  looked  at  the  doctor  as  she  asked  it.  He 
shook  his  head  emphatically. 

"  Well,  well,  dear,"  went  on  Mrs.  Coffin  hur 
riedly.  "  He  will  be  pretty  soon,  we'll  hope.  You 

203 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

mustn't  give  up  the  ship,  you  know.  Now  you  go 
and  lay  down  somewheres  and  I'll  get  my  things  off 
and  see  what  there  is  to  do.  Some  good  strong  tea 
might  be  good  for  all  hands,  I  guess  likely.  Where's 
Hannah  Poundberry?" 

"  She's  gone  to  her  cousin's  to  stay  all  night.  I 
suppose  I  ought  to  send  for  her,  but  I— 

"  No,  no,  you  hadn't.  Might's  well  send  for  a 
poll  parrot,  the  critter  would  be  just  as  much  good 
and  talk  less.  I'll  look  out  for  things,  me  and  the 
doctor.  Where's — where'sNat?" 

"  He  came  in  just  after  I  sent  the  boy  for  the 
doctor.  He's  in  there  with — with  him,"  indicating 
the  bedroom.  "  Poor  Nat !  " 

Keziah  looked  longingly  toward  the  door. 

"  Yes,"  she  said  slowly.  "  Poor  fellow,  it's  an 
awful  shock  to  him.  He  and  his  father  are—  But 
there !  you  lay  down  on  that  lounge." 

"  I    can't   lie    down.      I    can't    do    anything   but 
think.    Oh,  what  a  dreadful  day  this  has  been !    And 
I  thought  it  was  going  to  be  such  a  happy  one !  " 
'  Yes,  yes,  deary,  I  know." 

Grace  raised  her  head. 

'  You  know?  "  she  repeated,  looking  up  into  the 
housekeeper's  face. 

"  I  mean  I  know  it's  been  a  dreadful  day,"  ex 
plained  Keziah  quickly.  "  Yes,  indeed  it  has,"  with 
a  sigh.  "  But  there!  our  moanin'  over  it  don't  cheer 
it  up  any.  Will  you  lay  down?  No?  Well,  then, 
set  down,  there's  a  good  girl." 

Grace,  protesting  that  she  couldn't  sit  down,  she 
couldn't  leave  uncle,  and  there  were  so  many  things 
to  do,  was  at  last  persuaded  by  Keziah  and  the  doc 
tor  to  rest  for  a  few  moments  in  the  big  rocker. 

204 


CAPTAIN    EBEN    MAKES    PORT 

Then  Mrs.  Coffin  went  into  the  kitchen  to  prepare 
the  tea.  As  she  went,  she  beckoned  to  Dr.  Parker, 
who  joined  her  a  moment  later. 

"Well,  doctor?"  she  asked  anxiously. 

The  stout,  gray-haired  old  physician — he  had 
practiced  in  Trumet  for  nearly  thirty  years — shook 
his  head. 

"  Not  a  single  chance,"  he  whispered.  "  He  may 
possibly  live  till  morning,  but  I  doubt  if  he  lasts 
an  hour.  It's  his  heart.  I've  expected  it  at  any 
time.  Ever  since  he  had  that  shock,  I've  been  at 
him  to  take  things  easy;  but  you  might  as  well 
talk  to  a  graven  image.  That  Come-Outer  foolish 
ness  is  what  really  killed  him,  though  just  what 
brought  on  this  attack  I  can't  make  out.  Grace 
says  she  found  him  lying  on  the  floor  by  the  sofa. 
He  was  unconscious  then.  I'm  rather  worried 
about  her.  She  was  very  near  to  fainting  when  I  got 
here." 

"  No  wonder.  All  alone  in  this  ark  of  a  house 
and  nobody  to  help  or  to  send.  Lucky  she  found 
that  Ike  Higgins.  Say,  I  wonder  if  the  young  one's 
around  here  now?  If  he  is,  he  must  stand  at  the  gate 
and  scare  off  Come-Outers.  The  whole  chapel, 
mates,  crew,  and  cabin  boy,  '11  be  down  here  soon's 
meetin's  over  to  see  what  kept  Eben.  And  they 
mustn't  get  in." 

"  I  should  say  not.  I'll  hunt  up  Ike.  If  a  Come- 
Outer  gets  into  this  house  to-night  I'll  eat  him,  that's 
all." 

"  Some  of  'em  would  give  you  dyspepsy,  I  guess. 
Yes,  Grace,  I'll  be  there  in  a  jiffy." 

The  doctor  left  the  house  to  find  young  Higgins 
and  post  him  at  the  gate.  The  boy,  who  had  been 
is  205 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

listening  under  the  window,  was  proud  of  his  new 
responsibility. 

"  I'll  fix  'em,  doctor,"  he  declared.  "  I  only 
hope  old  Zeke  Bassett  comes.  He  lammed  me  with 
a  horsewhip  t'other  day,  'cause  I  was  ridin'  behind 
his  ox  cart.  If  he  tried  to  git  by  me,  I'll  bounce  a 
rock  off'n  his  Sunday  hat." 

"  Doctor,"  whispered  Keziah  from  the  kitch 
en  window.  "  Doctor,  come  quick.  Nat  wants 
you." 

Captain  Nat  was  standing  at  the  door  of  the  bed 
room.  His  face  was  drawn  and  he  had  seemingly 
grown  years  older  since  noon. 

"  He's  come  to  himself,  doc,"  he  whispered. 
"  He  don't  remember  how  it  happened  or  anything. 
And  he  wants  us  all.  Why !  why,  Keziah !  are  you 
here?" 

"  Yes,  Nat.     I've  been  here  a  little  while." 

He  looked  at  her  steadily  and  his  eyes  brightened 
just  a  trifle. 

"  Did  you  come  to  see  me?  "  he  asked.  "  Was  it 
about  what  I  said  this — 

"No,  no,  Nat;  no.  I  heard  the  news  and  that 
Grace  was  alone;  so  I  come  right  down." 

He  nodded  wearily. 

"  You  can  come  in,  too,"  he  said.  "  I  know  dad 
likes  you  and  I  guess —  Wait  a  minute;  I'll  ask 
him."  He  stepped  back  into  the  bedroom.  "  Yes," 
he  nodded,  returning,  "  you  come,  too.  He  wants 
you." 

The  little  room,  Captain  Eben's  own,  was  more 
like  a  skipper's  cabin  than  a  chamber  on  land.  A 
narrow,  single  bed,  a  plain  washstand,  a  battered, 
painted  bureau  and  a  single  chair — these  made  up 

206 


CAPTAIN    EBEN    MAKES    PORT 

the  list  of  furniture.  Two  pictures,  both  of  schoon 
ers  under  full  sail,  hung  on  the  walls.  Beside  them 
hung  a  ship's  barometer,  a  sextant,  and  a  clock  that 
struck  the  "  bells,"  instead  of  the  hours  as  the  lands 
man  understands  them.  In  the  corner  stood  the  cap 
tain's  big  boots  and  his  oilskins  hung  above  them. 
His  Sunday  cane  was  there  also.  And  on  the  bureau 
was  a  worn,  heavy  Bible. 

Dr.  Parker  brushed  by  the  others  and  bent  over 
the  bed. 

"  Well,  cap'n,"  he  said  cheerily,  "  how's  she 
headed?  How  are  you  feeling  now?  " 

The  old  face  on  the  pillow  smiled  feebly. 

"  She's  headed  for  home,  I  guess,  doc,"  said 
Captain  Eben.  "  Bound  for  home,  and  the  harbor 
light  broad  abeam,  I  cal'late." 

"Oh,  no!  you'll  make  a  good  many  voyages 
yet." 

"  Not  in  this  hulk,  I  won't,  doctor.  I  hope  I'll 
have  a  new  command  pretty  soon.  I'm  trustin'  in 
my  owners  and  I  guess  they'll  do  the  fair  thing  by 
me.  Halloo,  Gracie,  girl !  Well,  your  old  uncle's 
on  his  beam  ends,  ain't  he?" 

Grace  glanced  fearfully  at  his  face.  When  he 
spoke  her  name  she  shrank  back,  as  if  she  feared 
what  he  might  say.  But  he  only  smiled  as,  with  the 
tears  streaming  down  her  face,  she  bent  over  and 
kissed  him. 

"There!  there!"  he  protested.  "You  mustn't 
cry.  What  are  you  cryin'  about  me  for?  We  know, 
you  and  me,  who's  been  lookin'  out  for  us  and 
keepin'  us  on  the  course  all  these  years.  We  ain't 
got  anything  to  cry  for.  You  just  keep  on  bein'  a 
good  girl,  Gracie,  and  goin'  to  the  right  church 

207 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

and —     I    s'pose    Ezekiel'll    lead    in 

he     added.       "  I     do     wish     he     was     a     stronger 

man." 

The  doctor,  whose  fingers  had  been  upon  the  old 
man's  wrist,  looked  up  at  Nat  significantly. 

"  There,  dad,"  said  the  latter,  "  don't  you  worry 
about  Zeke  Bassett,  nor  anything  else.  You  just  lay 
in  dry  dock  and  let  Parker  here  overhaul  your  run- 
nin'  riggin'  and  get  you  fit  for  sea.  That's  what 
you've  got  to  do." 

"  I'm  fit  and  ready  for  the  sea  I'm  goin'  to  sail," 
was  the  answer.  His  eyes  wandered  from  his  son  to 
Mrs.  Coffin.  For  an  instant  he  seemed  puzzled. 
Then  he  said: 

"  'Evenin',  Keziah.  I  don't  know  why  you're 
here,  but " 

"  I  heard  that  Grace  was  alone  and  that  you  was 
sick,  Eben.  So  I  come  right  down,  to  help  if  I 
could." 

"  Thank   ye.      You're    a    good-hearted    woman, 
Keziah,  even  though  you  ain't  seen  the  true  light  yet. 
And  you're  housekeeper  for  that  hired  priest — a— 
a — "    He  paused,  and  a  troubled  look  came  over  his 
face. 

"What  is  it,  dad?"  asked  Nat. 

"I — I —  Where's  Gracie?  She's  here,  ain't 
she?" 

'  Yes,  uncle,   I'm  here.     Here  I  am,"  said  the 
girl.     His  fingers  groped  for  her  hand  and  seized  it. 

"  Yes,    yes,    you're    here,"    murmured    Captain 
Eben.     "  I — I — for  a  minute  or  so,   I — I   had  an 
awful    dream    about    you,    Gracie.       I    dreamed — 
Never  mind.     Doc,   answer  me  this  now,  true  and 
honest,   man  to  man:   Can  you   keep   me   here   for 

208 


CAPTAIN    EBEN    MAKES    PORT 

just  a  little  spell  longer?      Can  you?     Try!      Ten 
minutes,  say.     Can  you?  " 

"  Of  course  I  can.  Cap'n  Hammond,  what  are 
you- 

"  I  know.  That's  all  right.  But  I  ain't  a  young 
one  to  be  petted  and  lied  to.  I'm  a  man.  I've  sailed 
ships.  I've  been  on  blue  water.  I'm  goin'  to  make 
port  pretty  soon,  and  I  know  it,  but  I  want  to  get 
my  decks  clear  fust,  if  I  can.  Gracie,  stand  still. 
Nat,  run  alongside  where  I  can  see  you  plainer. 
Keziah,  you  and  the  doctor  stay  where  you  be.  I 
want  you  to  witness  this." 

"  Cap'n,"  protested  Dr.  Parker,  "  if  I  were  you 
I  wouldn't— 

"Belay!  Silence  there,  for'ard !  Nat,  you're 
my  boy,  ain't  you  ?  You  set  some  store  by  the  old 
man,  hey?  " 

"  I— I  guess  I  do,  dad." 

'  Yes,  I  guess  you  do,  too.  You've  been  a  pretty 
good  boy;  stubborn  and  pig-headed  sometimes,  but, 
take  you  by  and  large,  pretty  good.  And  Gracie, 
you've  been  a  mighty  good  girl.  Never  done  nothin' 
I  wouldn't  like,  nothin'  mean  nor  underhand 
nor- 

"  Hush,  uncle  !     Hush !     Please  hush !  " 

"  Well,  you  ain't;  so  why  should  I  hush?     In  this 
— this  dream  I  had,  seems  'sif  you — seems  as  if  a 
man  come  to  me  and  said  that  you  was —      It  was  a 
dream,  wa'n't  it?  " 

He  tried  to  rise.  Nat  and  the  doctor  started 
forward.  Grace  shrank  back. 

"  Of  course  it  was,  cap'n,"  said  the  doctor 
briskly.  "  Now  you  mustn't  fret  yourself  in  this 
way.  Just  lie  still  and— 

209 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Belay,  I  tell  you.  Yes,  I  guess  'twas  a  dream. 
It  had  to  be,  but  'twas  so  sort  of  real  that  I —  How 
long  have  I  been  this  way?  " 

"  Oh,  a  little  while!     Now  just— 

"Hush!  Don't  pull  your  hand  away,  Gracie. 
Nat,  give  me  yours.  That's  it.  Now  I  put 
them  two  hands  together.  See,  doctor?  See, 
Keziah?" 

"  He's  wandering.  We  must  stop  this,"  mut 
tered  Parker.  Mrs.  Coffin,  who  began  to  compre 
hend  what  was  coming,  looked  fearfully  at  Nat  and 
the  girl. 

"  No,  I  ain't  wanderin',  neither,"  declared  the 
old  Come-Outer  fretfully.  "  I'm  sane  as  ever  I 
was  and  if  you  try  to  stop  me  I'll — Gracie,  your 
Uncle  Eben's  v'yage  is  'most  over.  He's  almost  to  his 
moorin's  and  they're  waitin'  for  him  on  the  pier.  I 
—I  won't  be  long  now.  Just  a  little  while,  Lord ! 
Give  me  just  a  little  while  to  get  my  house  in  order. 
Gracie,  I  don't  want  to  go  till  I  know  you'll  be  looked 
out  for.  I've  spoke  to  Nat  about  this,  but  I  ain't  said 
much  to  you.  Seems  if  I  hadn't,  anyhow;  I  ain't 
real  sartin;  my  head's  all  full  of  bells  ringin'  and— 
and  things." 

"  Don't,  uncle,  don't !  "  pleaded  Grace.  "  Don't 
worry  about  me.  Think  of  yourself,  please." 

"  S-sh-sh !  Don't  put  me  off.  Just  listen.  I 
want  you  to  marry  my  boy,  after  I'm  gone.  I  want 
you  to  say  you  will — say  it  now,  so's  I  can  hear  it. 
Will  you,  Gracie?  " 

Grace  would  have  withdrawn  her  hand,  but  he 
would  not  let  her.  He  clung  to  it  and  to  that  of  his 
son  with  all  his  failing  strength. 

"  Will  you,  Gracie?  "  he  begged.     "  It's  the  last 

210 


CAPTAIN    EBEN    MAKES    PORT 

thing  I'm  goin'  to  ask  of  you.     I've  tried  to  be  sort 
of  good  to  you,  in  my  way,  and— 

"Don't,  don't!"  she  sobbed.  "Let  me  think 
a  minute,  uncle,  dear.  Oh,  do  let  me  think!  " 

"  I  ain't  got  time,  Gracie.  You'll  have  to  say  it 
now,  or  else—  All  right,  then,  think;  but  think 
quick." 

Grace  was  thinking.  u  If  she  really  cares  for 
him,  she  won't  let  him  ruin  his  life."  That  was  what 
Captain  Elkanah  had  said.  And  here  was  a  way  to 
save  him  from  ruin. 

"Won't  you  say  it  for  me,  Gracie?"  pleaded 
Captain  Eben.  She  hesitated  no  longer. 

'  Yes,  uncle,"  she  answered  through  tears,  "  if 
Nat  wants  me  he  can  have  me." 

Keziah  clasped  her  hands.  Captain  Eben's  face 
lit  up  with  a  great  joy. 

"  Thank  the  Almighty !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Lord, 
I  do  thank  you.  Nat,  boy,  you're  consider'ble  older 
than  she  is  and  you'll  have  to  plan  for  her.  You 
be  a  good  husband  to  her  all  her  days,  won't  ye? 
Why,  what  are  you  waitin'  for?  Why  don't  you 
answer  me?  " 

Nat  groaned  aloud. 

"  A  minute,  dad,"  he  stammered.  "  Just  give 
me  a  minute,  for  Heaven  sakes !  Keziah — 

"Keziah!"  repeated  Eben.  "Keziah?  What 
are  you  talkin'  to  her  for?  She  knows  there  couldn't 
be  no  better  match  in  the  world.  You  do  know  it, 
don't  ye,  Kez'iah?  " 

'  Yes,"  said  Keziah  slowly.  "  I  guess — I  guess 
you're  right,  Eben." 

"  Keziah  Coffin,"  cried  Nat  Hammond,  "  do  you 
tell  me  to  marry  Grace?" 

211 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Yes,  Nat,  I — I  think  your  father's  right." 

"  Then — then — what  difference  does—  All 
right,  dad.  Just  as  Grace  says." 

"  Thank  God !  "  cried  Captain  Eben.  "  Doctor, 
you  and  Mrs.  Coffin  are  witnesses  to  this.  There ! 
now  my  decks  are  clear  and  I'd  better  get  ready  to 
land.  Gracie,  girl,  the  Good  Book's  over  there  on 
the  bureau.  Read  me  a  chapter,  won't  you?  " 

An  hour  later  Keziah  sat  alone  in  the  dining 
room.  She  had  stolen  away  when  the  reading  began. 
Dr.  Parker,  walking  very  softly,  came  to  her  and 
laid  his  hand  on  her  shoulder. 

"  He's  gone,"  he  said  simply. 


CHAPTER    XIII 

IN   WHICH   KEZIAH    BREAKS  THE   NEWS 

IT  was  nearly  five  o'clock,  gray  dawn  of  what 
was  to  be  a  clear,  beautiful  summer  morning, 
when  Keziah  softly  lifted  the  latch  and  entered 
the  parsonage.  All  night  she  had  been  busy  at  the 
Hammond  tavern.  Busy  with  the  doctor  and  the 
undertaker,  who  had  been  called  from  his  bed  by 
young  Higgins;  busy  with  Grace,  soothing  her,  com 
forting  her  as  best  she  could,  and  petting  her  as  a 
mother  might  pet  a  stricken  child.  The  poor  girl 
was  on  the  verge  of  prostration,  and  from  hysterical 
spasms  of  sobs  and  weeping  passed  to  stretches  of 
silent,  dry-eyed  agony  which  were  harder  to  witness 
and  much  more  to  be  feared. 

"  It  is  all  my  fault,"  she  repeated  over  and  over 
again.  "  All  my  fault!  I  killed  him!  I  killed  him, 
Aunt  Keziah!  What  shall  I  do?  Oh,  why  couldn't 
I  have  died  instead?  It  would  have  been  so  much 
better,  better  for  everybody." 

"Ss-sh!  ss-sh!  deary,"  murmured  the  older 
woman.  "  Don't  talk  so ;  you  mustn't  talk  so.  Your 
uncle  was  ready  to  go.  He's  been  ready  for  ever  so 
long,  and  those  of  us  who  knew  how  feeble  he  was 
expected  it  any  time.  'Twa'n't  your  fault  at  all  and 
he'd  say  so  if  he  was  here  now." 

"  No,  he  wouldn't.  He'd  say  just  as  I  do,  that 
213 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

I  was  to,  blame.     You   don't  know,   Aunt   Keziah. 
Nobody  knows  but  me." 

"  Maybe  I  do,  Gracie,  dear;  maybe  I  do.  Maybe 
I  understand  better'n  you  think  I  do.  And  it's  all 
been  for  the  best.  You'll  think  so,  too,  one  of  these 
days.  It  seems  hard  now;  it  is  awful  hard,  you  poor 
thing,  but  it's  all  for  the  best,  I'm  sure.  Best  for 
everyone.  It's  a  mercy  he  went  sudden  and  rational, 
same  as  he  did.  The  doctor  says  that,  if  he  hadn't, 
he'd  have  been  helpless  and  bedridden  and,  maybe, 
out  of  his  head  for  another  year.  He  couldn't  have 
lived  longer'n  that,  at  the  most." 

"  But  you  don't  know,  Aunt  Keziah!  You  don't 
know  what  I —  I  am  to  blame.  I'll  never  forgive 
myself.  And  I'll  never  be  happy  again." 

'  Yes,  you  will.  You'll  come,  some  day,  to  think 
it  was  best  and  right,  for  you  and — and  for  others. 
I  know  you  think  you'll  never  get  over  it,  but  you 
will.  Somehow  or  other  you  will,  same  as  the  rest 
of  us  have  had  to  do.  The  Lord  tries  us  mighty 
hard  sometimes,  but  He  gives  us  the  strength  to  bear 
it.  There!  there!  don't,  deary,  don't." 

Dr.  Parker  was  very  anxious. 

"  She  must  rest,"  he  told  Mrs.  Coffin.  "  She 
must,  or  her  brain  will  give  way.  I'm  going  to  give 
her  something  to  make  her  sleep  and  you  must  get 
her  to  take  it." 

So  Keziah  tried  and,  at  last,  Grace  did  take  the 
drug.  In  a  little  while  she  was  sleeping,  uneasily  and 
with  moans  and  sobbings,  but  sleeping,  nevertheless. 

"  Now  it's  your  turn,  Keziah,"  said  the  doctor. 
'  You  go  home  now  and  rest,  yourself.     We  don't 
need  you  any  more  just  now." 

"  Where's— where's  Cap'n  Nat?  "  asked  Keziah. 
214 


KEZIAH    BREAKS    THE    NEWS 

"  He's  in  there  with  his  father.  He  bears  it  well, 
although  he  is  mighty  cut  up.  Poor  chap,  he  seems 
to  feel  that  he  is  to  blame,  somehow.  Says  Cap'n 
Eben  and  he  had  disagreed  about  something  or  other 
and  he  fears  that  hastened  the  old  man's  death. 
Nonsense, 'of  course.  It  was  bound  to  come  and  I 
told  him  so.  'Twas  those  blasted  Come-Outers  who 
really  did  it,  although  I  shan't  say  so  to  anyone  but 
you.  I'm  glad  Nat  and  the  girl  have  agreed  to 
cruise  together.  It's  a  mighty  good  arrangement. 
She  couldn't  have  a  better  man  to  look  out  for  her 
and  he  couldn't  have  a  better  wife.  I  suppose  I'm 
at  liberty  to  tell  people  of  the  engagement,  hey?  " 

'  Yes.  Yes,  I  don't  see  any  reason  why  not. 
Yes —  I  guess  likely  you'd  better  tell  'em." 

"  All  right.  Now  you  go  home.  You've  had  a 
hard  night,  like  the  rest  of  us." 

How  hard  he  had  no  idea.  And  Keziah,  as  she 
wearily  entered  the  parsonage,  realized  that  the 
morning  would  be  perhaps  the  hardest  of  all.  For 
upon  her  rested  the  responsibility  of  seeing  that  the 
minister's  secret  was  kept.  And  she,  and  no  other, 
must  break  the  news  to  him. 

The  dining  room  was  dark  and  gloomy.  She 
lighted  the  lamp.  Then  she  heard  a  door  open  and 
Ellery's  voice,  as  he  called  down  the  stairs. 

"  Who  is  it?  "  he  demanded.     "  Mrs.  Coffin?  " 

She  was  startled.  "  Yes,"  she  said  softly,  after 
a  moment.  "  Yes,  Mr.  Ellery,  it's  me.  What  are 
you  doin'  awake  at  such  an  hour's  this?  " 

"  Yes,  I'm  awake.  I  couldn't  sleep  well  to-night, 
somehow.  Too  much  to  think  of,  I  imagine.  But 
where  have  you  been?  Why  weren't  you  at  meet 
ing?  And  where —  Why,  it's  almost  morning!" 

215 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

She  did  not  answer  at  once.  The  temptation  was 
to  say  nothing  now,  to  put  off  the  trying  scene  as 
long  as  possible. 

"  It's  morning,"  repeated  the  minister.  "  Are 
you  sick?  Has  anything  happened?" 

'  Yes,"  she  answered  slowly,  "  somethin'  has 
happened.  Are  you  dressed?  Could  you  come 
down?" 

He  replied  that  he  would  be  down  in  a  moment. 
When  he  came  he  found  her  standing  by  the  table 
waiting  for  him.  The  look  of  her  face  in  the  lamp 
light  shocked  him. 

"Why,  Mrs.  Coffin!"  he  exclaimed.  "What 
is  it?  You  look  as  if  you  had  been  through  some 
dreadful  experience." 

"  Maybe  I  have,"  she  replied.  "  Maybe  I  have. 
Experiences  like  that  come  to  us  all  in  this  life,  to 
old  folks  and  young,  and  we  have  to  bear  'em  like 
men  and  women.  That's  the  test  we're  put  to,  Mr. 
Ellery,  and  the  way  we  come  through  the  fire  proves 
the  stuff  we're  made  of.  Sorrows  and  disappoint 
ments  and  heartbreaks  and  sicknesses  and  death — 

She  paused  on  the  word.     He  interrupted  her. 

"  Death?  "  he  repeated.  "  Death?  Is  some  one 
dead,  some  one  I  know?  Mrs.  Coffin,  what  is  it  you 
are  trying  to  tell  me?  " 

Her  heart  went  out  to  him.  She  held  out  both 
her  hands. 

"  You  poor  boy,"  she  cried,  "  I'm  trying  to  tell 
you  one  of  the  hardest  things  a  body  can  tell.  Yes, 
some  one  is  dead,  but  that  ain't  all.  Eben  Ham 
mond,  poor  soul,  is  out  of  his  troubles  and  gone." 

"Eben    Hammond!      Captain    Eben?      Dead! 

Why,  why " 

216 


KEZIAH    BREAKS    THE    NEWS 

'  Yes,  Eben's  gone.  He  was  took  down  sudden 
and  died  about  ten  o'clock  last  night.  I  was  there 
and- 

"  Captain  Eben  dead  !  Why,  he  was  as  well  as— 
as —  She  said—  Oh,  I  must  go !  I  must  go  at 
once!" 

He  was  on  his  way  to  the  door,  but  she  held  it 
shut. 

"  No,"  she  said  gravely,  "  you  mustn't  go.  You 
mustn't  go,  Mr.  Ellery.  That's  the  one  thing  you 
mustn't  do." 

'  You  don't  understand.  By  and  by  I  can  tell 
you  why  I  must  be  there,  but  now— 

"  I  do  understand.  I  understand  it  all.  Lord 
help  us!  if  I'd  only  understood  sooner,  how  much  of 
this  might  have  been  spared.  Why  didn't  you  tell 
me?" 

"  Mrs.  Coffin- 

'  John — you  won't  mind  my  callin'  you  John. 
I'm  old  enough,  pretty  nigh,  to  be  your  mother,  and 
I've  come  to  feel  almost  as  if  I  was.  John,  you've 
got  to  stay  here  with  me.  You  can't  go  to  that 
house.  You  can't  go  to  her." 

"  Mrs.  Coffin,  what  are  you  saying?  Do  you 
know—  Have  you— 

'  Yes,  I  know  all  about  it.  I  know  about  the 
meetin's  in  the  pines  and  all.  Oh,  why  didn't  you 
trust  me  and  tell  me?  If  you  had,  all  would  have 
been  so  much  better !  " 

He  looked  at  her  in  utter  amazement.  The  blood 
rushed  to  his  face. 

"  You  know  that?  "  he  whispered. 

"  Yes,  I  know." 

«  Did  she  tell " 

217 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  No,  nobody  told.  That  is,  only  a  little.  I  got 
a  hint  and  I  suspicioned  somethin'  afore.  The  rest 
I  saw  with  my  own  eyes." 

He  was  now  white,  but  his  jaw  shot  forward  and 
his  teeth  closed. 

"  If  you  do  know,"  he  said,  "  you  must  realize 
that  my  place  is  with  her.  Now,  when  she  is  in 
trouble— 

"  Would  you  want  to  make  that  trouble  greater? 
More  than  she  could  bear?  " 

"  I  think  I  might  help  her  to  bear  it.  Mrs. 
Coffin,  you  have  been  my  truest  friend,  but  one,  in 
Trumet.  You  have  been  like  a  mother  to  me.  But 
I  have  thought  this  out  to  the  end  and  I  shall  go 
through  with  it.  It  is  my  affair — and  hers.  If  my 
own  mother  were  alive  and  spoke  as  you  do,  I  should 
still  go  through  with  it.  It  is  right,  it  is  my  life. 
I'm  not  ashamed  of  anything  I've  done.  I'm  proud. 
I'm  proud  of  her.  And  humble  only  when  I  think 
how  unworthy  I  am  to  be  her  husband.  I  suppose 
you  are  fearful  of  what  my  congregation  will  say. 
Well,  I've  thought  of  that,  too,  and  thought  it 
through.  Whatever  they  say  and  whatever  they  do 
will  make  no  difference.  Do  you  suppose  I  will  let 
them  keep  me  from  her?  Please  open  that  door." 

He  was  very  tragic  and  handsome — and  young, 
as  he  stood  there.  The  tears  overflowed  the  house 
keeper's  eyes  as  she  looked  at  him.  If  her  own  love 
story  had  not  been  broken  off  at  its  beginning,  if  she 
had  not  thrown  her  life  away,  she  might  have  had 
a  son  like  that.  She  would  have  given  all  that  the 
years  had  in  store  for  her,  given  it  gladly,  to  have 
been  able  to  open  the  door  and  bid  him  go.  But 
she  was  firm. 

218 


KEZIAH    BREAKS    THE    NEWS 

"  It  ain't  the  congregation,  John,"  she  said. 
"  Nor  Trumet,  nor  your  ministry.  That  means 
more'n  you  think  it  does,  now;  but  it  ain't  that.  You 
mustn't  go  to  her  because — well,  because  she  don't 
want  you  to." 

"  Doesn't  want  me?  I  know  better."  He 
laughed  in  supreme  scorn. 

"  She  doesn't  want  you,  John.  She  wouldn't 
see  you  if  you  went.  She  would  send  you  away 
again,  sure,  sartin  sure.  She  would.  And  if  you 
didn't  go  when  she  sent  you,  you  wouldn't  be  the 
man  I  hope  you  are.  John,  you  mustn't  see  Grace 
again.  She  ain't  yours.  She  belongs  to  some  one 
else." 

"  Some  one  else!  "  He  repeated  the  words  in  a 
whisper.  "  Some  one  else?  Why,  Mrs.  Coffin,  you 
must  be  crazy  !  If  you  expect  me  to — 

"  Hush !  hush !  I  ain't  crazy,  though  there's 
times  when  I  wonder  I  ain't.  John,  you  and  Grace 
have  known  each  other  for  a  few  months,  that's  all. 
You've  been  attracted  to  her  because  she  was  pretty 
and  educated  and — and  sweet;  and  she's  liked  you 
because  you  were  about  the  only  young  person  who 
could  understand  her  and — and  all  that.  And  so 
you've  been  meetin'  and  have  come  to  believe — you 
have,  anyway — that  'twas  somethin'  more  than  likin'. 
But  you  neither  of  you  have  stopped  to  think  that 
a  marriage  between  you  two  was  as  impossible  as 
anything  could  be.  And,  besides,  there's  another 
man.  A  man  she's  known  all  her  life  and  loved  and 
respected— 

"  Stop,  Mrs.  Coffin  !  stop  this  wicked  nonsense. 
I  won't  hear  it." 

"  John,  Grace  Van  Home  is  goin'  to  marry 
219 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Cap'n  Nat  Hammond.  There !  that's  the  livin' 
truth." 

In  his  absolute  confidence  and  faith  he  had  again 
started  for  the  door.  Now  he  wheeled  and  stared 
at  her.  She  nodded  solemnly. 

"  It's  the  truth,"  she  repeated.  "  She  and  Nat 
are  promised  to  each  other.  Cap'n  Eben,  on  his 
deathbed,  asked  Dr.  Parker  and  me  to  be  witnesses 
to  the  engagement.  Now  you  see  why  you  mustn't 
go  nigh  her  again." 

He  did  not  answer.  Instead,  he  stood  silently 
staring.  She  stepped  forward  and  laid  a  hand  on 
his  shoulder. 

"  Set  down,  John,"  she  said.  "  Set  down  and  let 
me  tell  you  about  it.  Yes,  yes,  you  must.  If  I  tell 
you,  you'll  understand  better.  There !  there !  don't 
you  interrupt  me  yet  and  don't  you  look  that  way. 
Do  set  down." 

She  led  him  over  to  the  rocking-chair  and  gently 
forced  him  into  it.  He  obeyed,  although  with  no 
apparent  realization  of  what  he  was  doing.  Still 
with  her  hand  on  his  shoulder  she  went  on  speaking. 
She  told  him  of  her  visit  to  the  Hammond  tavern, 
saying  nothing  of  Mr.  Pepper's  call  nor  of  her  own 
experience  in  the  grove.  She  told  of  Captain  Eben's 
seizure,  of  what  the  doctor  said,  and  of  the  old 
Come-Outer's  return  to  consciousness.  Then  she 
described  the  scene  in  the  sick  room  and  how  Nat 
and  Grace  had  plighted  troth.  He  listened,  at  first 
stunned  and  stolid,  then  with  growing  impatience. 

"  So  you  see,"  she  said.  "It's  settled;  they're 
engaged,  and  Dr.  Parker  will  tell  everybody  of 
the  engagement  this  very  mornin'.  It  wa'n't  any 
great  surprise  to  me.  Those  two  have  been  brought 

220 


"Mrs.  Coffin,  stand  away  from  that  door.'" 
16 


KEZIAH    BREAKS    THE    NEWS 

up  together;  'twas  the  natural  thing  that  was  almost 
bound  to  happen.  Eben's  heart  was  set  on  it  for 
years.  And  she'll  have  a  good  husband,  John,  that  I 
know.  And  she'll  do  her  best  to  make  him  happy. 
He's  a  good  man  and— 

The  minister  sprang  to  his  feet. 

"A  good  man!  "  he  cried  furiously.  "  A  good 
man !  One  who  will  make  use  of  a  dying  father  to 
drive  a  girl  into —  Stand  aside,  Mrs.  Coffin !  " 

"  John,  you  mustn't  speak  that  way  of  Nat  Ham 
mond.  He  ain't  the  kind  to  drive  a  girl  against  her 
will.  And  Grace  is  not  one  to  be  driven." 

"Are  you  blind?  Can't  you  see?  Why,  only 
yesterday,  she—  Do  you  think  I  shall  permit  such 
a  wicked  crime  as  that  to 

"  Ss-sh !  No,  it  ain't  wicked,  it's  right.  Right 
and  best  for  everybody,  for  her  especial.  Yesterday 
she  might  have  forgot  for  a  minute.  But  think,  just 
think  what  would  have  happened  if  she  cared  for 
you." 

"  But  she  does!  I  know  she  does.  Mrs.  Coffin, 
stand  away  from  that  door." 

"  No,  John;  if  you  go  out  of  that  door  now,  to 
go  to  her,  you'll  have  to  go  by  main  strength.  You 
shan't  wreck  yourself  and  that  girl  if  I  can  help  It. 
Be  a  man." 

The  pair  looked  at  each  other.  Keziah  was 
determined,  but  so,  evidently,  was  he.  She  realized, 
with  a  sinking  heart,  that  her  words  had  made  abso 
lutely  no  impression.  He  did  not  attempt  to  pass, 
but  he  slowly  shook  his  head. 

"  Mrs.  Coffin,"  he  said,  "  perhaps  you  believe 
you're  doing  right.  I  hope — yes,  I'll  give  you  credit 
for  that  belief.  But  I  know  I  am  right  and  I  shall 

221 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

go  to  her.  Such  a — a  bargain  as  that  you  have  just 
told  me  of  is  no  more  to  be  regarded  than 

"  John,  I  beg  you- 

"  No." 

"  Then  go.  Go  this  minute  and  break  her  heart 
and  ruin  her  life  and  spoil  her  good  name  in  this 
village  where  she's  lived  since  she  was  eight  years 
old.  Go !  be  selfish.  I  suppose  that's  part  of  a  man's 
make-up.  Go !  Never  mind  her.  Go !  " 

"  I  do  '  mind  '  her,  as  you  call  it.  I  am  thinking 
of  her." 

"  No,  you're  not.     It's  yourself." 

"  If  it  was  myself — and  God  knows  it  is  the  only 
happiness  on  earth  for  me — if  it  was  only  myself, 
and  I  really  thought  she  wished  me  to  stay  away, 
I'd  stay,  I'd  stay,  though  I'd  pray  to  die  before  this 
hour  was  over." 

u  I  know,  I  know.  I've  prayed  to  die  myself 
afore  now,  but  I'm  here  yet;  and  so  will  you  be.  We 
can't  die  so  easy." 

"  But  I  know " 

"  Do  you 'Suppose  she  would  come  to  you  if  she 
knew  it  would  be  your  ruin?  " 

He  hesitated.  The  last  time  they  met,  ages 
before — no,  only  the  previous  afternoon — she  had 
told  him  it  was  his  happiness  and  his  future  only 
that  she  thought  of.  He  choked  and  drew  his  hand 
across  his  eyes. 

"  Mrs.  Coffin,"  he  said,  "  you  tell  me  it  will,  be 
her  ruin.  You  tell  me  so.  You  say  she  doesn't  want 
me.  I  tell  you  that  the  only  thing  that  will  keep 
me  from  her  is  hearing  that  from  her  own  lips. 
When  she  tells  me  to  leave  her  I  will,  and  not 
before." 

222 


KEZIAH    BREAKS    THE    NEWS 

"  She'll  tell  you,  John;  she'll  tell  you.  T  know 
you  must  despise  me,  pretty  nigh.  I  cal'late  you 
think  I'm  a  worldly  old  woman,  carin'  nothin'  for 
your  feelin's.  Maybe  I've  talked  pretty  hard  in 
the  last  few  minutes,  but  I  haven't  meant  to  be  hard. 
To  be  honest,  I  didn't  think  you'd  listen  to  me.  I 
expected  you'd  insist  on  seein'  her  yourself.  Well, 
then,  go  and  see  her,  if  you  must,  though  what  will 
come  of  it  can  only  be  more  trouble,  for  you  run 
the  risk  of  folks  knowin'  it  and  beginnin'  to  wonder. 
And  I  know  Grace.  She's  made  up  her  mind  and 
won't  change  it.  But  I  do  ask  you  this:  I  ask  you 
not  to  go  now.  Wait  a  little  while,  do.  I  left 
her  asleep,  worn  out  by  what  she's  been  through  and 
under  the  effects  of  the  doctor's  sleepin'  medicine. 
He  said  she  must  rest  or  he  was  afraid  her  brain 
would  give  out.  For  her  sake,  then,  wait  a  little. 
Then,  if  you  don't  hear  from  her,  maybe  I  can 
arrange  a  meetin'  place  where  you  can  see  her  with 
out  anyone's  knowin'  it.  I'll  try.  But  do  wait  a 
little  while,  for  her  sake,  won't  you  ?  " 

At  last  he  was  listening  and  hesitating. 

"Won't  you?"  begged  Keziah. 

"Yes,"  he  answered  slowly.  "I'll  wait.  I'll 
wait  until  noon,  somehow,  if  I  can.  I'll  try.  But 
not  a  minute  later.  Not  one.  You  don't  know  what 
you're  asking,  Mrs.  Coffin." 

"  Yes,  I  do.  I  know  well.  And  I  thank  you 
for  her  sake." 

But  he  did  not  have  to  wait  until  noon.  At  six 
o'clock,  through  the  dew-soaked  grass  of  the  yard, 
came  the  Higgins  boy.  For  the  first  time  in  his 
short  life  he  had  been  awake  all  night  and  he  moved 
slowly. 

223 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

The  housekeeper  opened  the  door.  Ike  held  up 
an  envelope,  clutched  in  a  grimy  hand. 

"  It's  for  you,  Mrs.  Keziah,"  he  said.  "  Gracie, 
she  sent  it.  There  ain't  no  answer." 

Keziah  took  the  letter.  "How  is  she?  And 
how's  Nat?"  she  asked. 

"  They're  doin'  pretty  well,  so  ma  says.  Ma's 
there  now  and  they've  sent  for  Hannah  Poundberry. 
Gee!"  he  added,  yawning,  "I  ain't  slept  a  wink. 
Been  on  the  jump,  now  I  tell  ye.  Didn't  none  of 
them  Come-Outers  git  in,  not  one.  I  sent  'em  on 
the  home  tack  abilin'.  You  ought  to  hear  me  give 
old  Zeke  Bassett  Hail  Columby  !  Gosh  !  I  was  just 
ahopin'  he'd  come." 

Mrs.  Coffin  closed  the  door  and  tore  open  the 
envelope.  Within  was  another  addressed,  in  Grace's 
handwriting,  to  Mr.  Ellery.  The  housekeeper  en 
tered  the  study,  handed  it  to  him  and  turned  away. 

The  minister,  who  had  been  pacing  the  floor, 
seized  the  note  eagerly.  It  was  written  in  pencil 
and  by  a  hand  that  had  trembled  much.  Yet  there 
was  no  indecision  in  the  written  words. 

"  Dear  John,"  wrote  Grace.  "  I  presume  Aunt 
Keziah  has  told  you  of  uncle's  death  and  of  my 
promise  to  Nat.  It  is  true.  I  am  going  to  marry 
him.  I  am  sure  this  is  right  and  for  the  best.  Our 
friendship  was  a  mistake  and  you  must  not  see  me 
again.  Please  don't  try. 

"  GRACE  VAN  HORNE/' 

Beneath  was  another  paragraph. 

"  Don't  worry  about  me.     I  shall  be  happy,  I  am 
224 


sure.     And  I  shall  hope  that  you  may  be.     I  shall 
pray  for  that." 

The  note  fell  to  the  floor  with  a  rustle  that 
sounded  loud  in  the  stillness.  Then  Keziah  heard 
the  minister's  step.  She  turned.  He  was  moving 
slowly  across  the  room. 

"John,"  she  cried  anxiously,  "you  poor  boy!" 

He  answered  without  looking  back. 

"  I'm — going — up — to — my — room,"  he  said, 
a  pause  between  each  word.  "  I  want  to  be  alone 
awhile,  Mrs.  Coffin." 

Wearily  Keziah  set  about  preparing  breakfast. 
Not  that  she  expected  the  meal  would  be  eaten,  but 
it  gave  her  something  to  do  and  occupied  her  mind. 
The  sun  had  risen  and  the  light  streamed  in  at  the 
parsonage  windows.  The  breeze  blew  fresh  and 
cool  from  the  ocean.  It  was  a  magnificent  morning. 

She  called  to  him  that  breakfast  was  ready,  but 
he  did  not  answer.'  She  could  eat  nothing  herself, 
and,  when  the  table  was  cleared,  prepared  to  do  the 
week's  washing,  for  Monday  is  always  washday  in 
Trumet.  Noon  came,  dinner  time,  but  still  he  did 
not  come  down.  At  last  Keziah  could  stand  it  no 
longer.  She  determined  to  go  to  him.  She  climbed 
the  steep  stairs  and  rapped  on  the  door  of  his  room. 
'  Yes?  "  she  heard  him  say. 

"  It's  me,"  was  the  reply.  "  Mr.  Ellery,  can  I 
come  in?  I  know  you  want  to  be  alone,  but  I  don't 
think  you'd  ought  to  be,  too  much.  I'd  like  to  talk 
with  you  a  few  minutes;  may  I?  " 

A  moment  passed  before  he  told  her  to  enter. 
He  was  sitting  in  a  chair  by  the  window,  dressed  just 
as  he  had  been  when  she  returned  from  the  tavern. 

225 


She  looked  sharply  at  his  face  as  it  was  turned  toward 
her.  His  eyes  were  dry  and  in  them  was  an  expres 
sion  so  hopeless  and  dreary  that  the  tears  started  to 
her  own. 

"  John,"  she  said,  "  I  couldn't  bear  to  think  of 
your  facin'  it  alone  up  here.  I  just  had  to  come." 

He  smiled,  and  the  smile  was  as  hopeless  as  the 
look  in  his  eyes. 

"Face  it?"  he  repeated.  "Well,  Mrs.  Coffin, 
I  must  face  it,  I  suppose.  I've  been  facing  it  ever 
since — since  I  knew.  And  I  find  it  no  easier." 

"  John,  what  are  you  goin'  to  do?  " 

He  shook  his  head.  "  I  don't  know,"  he  said. 
"  Go  away  somewhere,  first  of  all,  I  guess.  Go 
somewhere  and — and  try  to  live  it  down.  I  can't, 
of  course,  but  I  must  try." 

"  Go  away?  Leave  Trumet  and  your  church  and 
your  congregation?" 

"  Did  you  suppose  I  could  stay  here?  " 

"  I  hoped  you  would." 

"And  see  the  same  people  and  the  same  places? 
And  do  the  same  things?  See — seeker!  Did  you  " 
— he  moved  impatiently — "  did  you  expect  me  to 
attend  the  wedding?  " 

She  put  out  her  hand.  "  I  know  it'll  be  hard," 
she  said,  "  stayin'  here,  I  mean.  But  your  duty  to 
others " 

"  Don't  you  think  we've  heard  enough  about 
duty  to  others?  How  about  my  duty  to  myself?  " 

"  I  guess  that's  the  last  thing  we  ought  to  think 
about  in  the  world,  if  we  do  try  to  be  fair  and  square. 
Your  church  thinks  a  heap  of  you,  John.  They  build 
on  you.  You've  done  more  in  the  little  while  you've 
been  here  than  Mr.  Langley  did  in  his  last  fifteen 

226 


KEZIAH    BREAKS    THE    NEWS 

years.  We've  grown  and  we're  doin'  good — doin'  it, 
not  talkin'  it  in  prayer  meetin'.  The  parish  commit 
tee  likes  you  and  the  poor  folks  in  the  society  love 
you.  Old  Mrs.  Prince  was  tellin'  me,  only  a  little 
spell  ago,  that  she  didn't  know  how  she'd  have  pulled 
through  this  dreadful  time  if  'twa'n't  for  you.  And 
there's  lots  of  others.  Are  you  goin'  to  leave  them? 
And  what  reason  will  you  give  for  leavin'  ?  " 

He  shook  his  head.  "  I  don't  know,"  he  an 
swered.  "  I  may  not  give  any.  But  I  shall  go." 

"  I  don't  believe  you  will.  I  don't  believe  you're 
that  kind.  I've  watched  you  pretty  sharp  since  you 
and  I  have  been  livin'  together  and  I  have  more 
faith  in  you  than  that  comes  to.  You  haven't  acted 
to  me  like  a  coward  and  I  don't  think  you'll  run 
away." 

"  Mrs.  Coffin,  it  is  so  easy  for  you  to  talk.  Per 
haps  if  I  were  in  your  place  I  should  be  giving  good 
advice  about  duty  and  not  running  away  and  so  on. 
But  suppose  you  were  in  mine." 

"  Well,  suppose  I  was." 

"  Suppose —    Oh,  but  there!  it's  past  supposing." 

"  I  don't  know's  'tis.  My  life  hasn't  been  all 
sunshine  and  fair  winds,  by  no  means." 

"  That's  true.  I  beg  your  pardon.  You  have 
had  troubles  and,  from  what  I  hear,  you've  borne 
them  bravely.  But  you  haven't  had  to  face  anything 
like  this." 

"Haven't  I?  Well,  what  is  it  you're  asked  to 
face?  Disappointment?  I've  faced  that.  Sorrow 
and  heartbreak?  I've  faced  them." 

"  You've  never  been  asked  to  sit  quietly  by  and 
see  the  one  you  love  more  than  all  the  world  marry 
some  one  else." 

227 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  How  do  you  know  I  ain't?  How  do  you  know 
I  ain't  doin'  just  that  now?  " 

"Mrs.  Coffin!" 

'  John  Ellery,  you  listen  to  me.  You  think  I'm 
a  homely  old  woman,  probably,  set  in  my  ways  as  an 
eight-day  clock.  I  guess  I  look  like  it  and  act  like 
it.  But  I  ain't  so  awful  old — on  the  edge  of  forty, 
that's  all.  And  when  I  was  your  age  I  wa'n't  so 
awful  homely,  either.  I  had  fellers  aplenty  hangin' 
round  and  I  could  have  married  any  one  of  a 
dozen.  This  ain't  boastin' ;  land  knows  I'm  fur 
from  that.  I  was  brought  up  in  this  town  and  even 
when  I  was  a  girl  at  school  there  was  only  one  boy 
I  cared  two  straws  about.  He  and  I  went  to  picnics 
together  and  to  parties  and  everywhere.  Folks  used 
to  laugh  and  say  we  was  keepin'  comp'ny,  even 
then. 

'  Well,  when  I  was  eighteen,  after  father  died,  I 
went  up  to  New  Bedford  to  work  in  a  store  there. 
Wanted  to  earn  my  own  way.  And  this  young  feller 
I'm  tellin'  you  about  went  away  to  sea,  but  every 
time  he  come  home  from  a  voyage  he  come  to  see  me 
and  things  went  on  that  way  till  we  was  promised  to 
each  other.  The  engagement  wa'n't  announced,  but 
'twas  so,  just  the  same.  We'd  have  been  married  in 
another  year.  And  then  we  quarreled. 

'Twas  a  fool  quarrel,  same  as  that  kind 
gen'rally  are.  As  much  my  fault  as  his  and  as  much 
his  as  mine,  I  cal'late.  Anyhow,  we  was  both  proud, 
or  thought  we  was,  and  neither  would  give  in.  And 
he  says  to  me,  '  You'll  be  sorry  after  I'm  gone. 
You'll  wish  me  back  then.'  And  says  I,  be'ui'  a  fool, 
'  I  guess  not.  There's  other  fish  in  the  sea.'  He 
sailed  and  I  did  wish  him  back,  but  I  wouldn't  write 

228 


KEZIAH    BREAKS    THE    NEWS 

fust  and  neither  would  he.  And  then  come  another 
man." 

She  paused,  hesitated,  and  then  continued. 

"  Never  mind  about  the  other  man.  He  was 
handsome  then,  in  a  way,  and  he  had  money  to  spend, 
and  he  liked  me.  He  wanted  me  to  marry  him.  If 
— if  the  other,  the  one  that  went  away,  had  written  I 
never  would  have  thought  of  such  a  thing,  but  he 
didn't  write.  And,  my  pride  bein'  hurt,  and  all,  I 
finally  said  yes  to  the  second  chap.  My  folks  did 
all  they  could  to  stop  it;  they  told  me  he  was  dissi 
pated,  they  said  he  had  a  bad  name,  they  told  me 
'twa'n't  a  fit  match.  And  his  people,  havin'  money, 
was  just  as  set  against  his  takin'  a  poor  girl.  Both 
sides  said  ruin  would  come  of  it.  But  I  married 
him. 

"  Well,  for  the  first  year  'twa'n't  so  bad.  Not 
happiness  exactly,  but  not  misery  either.  That  come 
later.  His  people  was  well  off  and  he'd  never  worked 
much  of  any.  He  did  for  a  little  while  after  we  was 
married,  but  not  for  long.  Then  he  begun  to  drink 
and  carry  on  and  lost  his  place.  Pretty  soon  he  begun 
to  neglect  me  and  at  last  went  off  to  sea  afore  the 
mast.  We  was  poor  as  poverty,  but  I  could  have 
stood  that;  I  did  stand  it.  I  took  in  sewin'  and  kept 
up  an  appearance,  somehow.  Never  told  a  soul. 
His  folks  come  patronizin'  around  and  offered  me 
money,  so's  I  needn't  disgrace  them.  I  sent  'em 
rightabout  in  a  hurry.  Once  in  a  while  he'd  come 
home,  get  tipsy  and  abuse  me.  Still  I  said  nothin'. 
Thank  God,  there  was  no  children;  that's  the  one 
thing  I've  been  thankful  for. 

"  You  can't  keep  such  things  quiet  always.  Peo 
ple  are  bound  to  find  out.  They  come  to  me  and 

229 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

said,  '  Why  don't  you  leave  him  ?  '  but  I  wouldn't. 
I  could  have  divorced  him  easy  enough,  there  was 
reasons  plenty,  but  I  wouldn't  do  that.  Then  word 
came  that  he  was  dead,  drowned  off  in  the  East 
Indies  somewheres.  I  come  back  here  to  keep  house 
for  Sol,  my  brother,  and  I  kept  house  for  him  till  he 
died  and  they  offered  me  this  place  here  at  the  par 
sonage.  There !  that's  my  story,  part  of  it,  more'n 
I  ever  told  a  livin'  soul  afore,  except  Sol." 

She  ceased  speaking.  The  minister,  who  had  sat 
silent  by  the  window,  apathetically  listening  or  trying 
to  listen,  turned  his  head. 

"  I  apologize,  Mrs.  Coffin,"  he  said  dully,  "  you 
have  had  trials,  hard  ones.  But — 

"But  they  ain't  as  hard  as  yours,  you  think? 
Well,  I  haven't  quite  finished  yet.  After  word  come 
of  my  husband's  death,  the  other  man  come  and 
wanted  me  to  marry  him.  And  I  wanted  to — oh, 
how  I  wanted  to !  I  cared  as  much  for  him  as  I  ever 
did;  more,  I  guess.  But  I  wouldn't — I  wouldn't, 
though  it  wrung  my  heart  out  to  say  no.  I  give 
him  up — why?  'cause  I  thought  I  had  a  duty  laid  on 
me." 

Ellery  sighed.     "  I  can  see  but  one  duty,"  he  said. 
'  That  is  the  duty  given  us  by  God,  to  marry  the 
one  we  love." 

Keziah's  agitation,  which  had  grown  as  she  told 
her  story,  suddenly  flashed  into  flame. 

"Is  that  as  fur  as  you  can  see?"  she  asked 
fiercely.  "  It's  an  easy  duty,  then — or  looks  easy 
now.  I've  got  a  harder  one;  it's  to  stand  by  the 
promise  I  gave  and  the  man  I  married." 

He  looked  at  her  as  if  he  thought  she  had  lost 
her  wits. 

230 


KEZIAH    BREAKS    THE    NEWS 

"The  man  you  married?"  he  replied.  "Why, 
the  man  you  married  is  dead." 

"  No,  he  ain't.  You  remember  the  letter  you 
saw  me  readin'  that  night  when  you  come  back  from 
Gome-Outers'  meetin'?  Well,  that  letter  was  from 
him.  He's  alive." 

For  the  first  time  during  the  interview  the  min 
ister  rose  to  his  feet,  shocked  out  of  his  despair  and 
apathy  by  this  astounding  revelation. 

"Alive?"  he  repeated.  "Your  husband  alive? 
Why,  Mrs.  Coffin,  this  is— 

She  waved  him  to  silence.  "  Don't  stop  me  now," 
she  said.  "  I've  told  so  much;  let  me  tell  the  rest. 
Yes,  he's  alive.  Alive  and  knockin'  round  the  world 
somewheres.  Every  little  while  he  writes  me  for 
money  and,  if  I  have  any,  I  send  it  to  him.  Why? 
Why  'cause  I'm  a  coward,  after  all,  I  guess,  and  I'm 
scared  he'll  do  what  he  says  he  will  and  come  back. 
Perhaps  you  think  I'm  a  fool  to  put  up  with  it;  that's 
what  most  folks  would  say  if  they  knew  it.  They'd 
tell  me  I  ought  to  divorce  him.  Well,  I  can't,  I 
can't.  I  walked  into  the  mess  blindfold;  I  married 
him  in  spite  of  warnin's  and  everything.  I  took  him 
for  better  or  for  worse,  and  now  that  he's  turned  out 
worse,  I  must  take  my  medicine.  I  can't  live  with  him 
—that  I  can't  do — but  while  he  lives  I'll  stay  his  wife 
and  give  him  what  money  I  can  spare.  That's  the 
duty  I  told  you  was  laid  on  me,  and  it's  a  hard  one, 
but  I  don't  run  away  from  it." 

John  Ellery  was  silent.  What  could  he  say? 
Keziah  went  on. 

"  I  don't  run  away  from  it,"  she  exclaimed,  "  and 
you  mustn't  run  away  from  yours.  Your  church  de 
pends  on  you,  they  trust  you.  Are  you  goin'  to  show 

231 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

'ern  their  trust  was  misplaced?  The  girl  you  wanted 
is  to  marry  another  man,  that's  true,  and  it's  mighty 
hard.  But  she'll  marry  a  good  man,  and,  by  and  by, 
she'll  be  happy." 

"  Happy!  "  he  said  scornfully. 

"  Yes,  happy.  I  know  she'll  be  happy  because  I 
know  she's  doin'  what'll  be  best  for  her  and  because 
I  know  him  that's  to  be  her  husband.  I've  known 
him  all  my  life;  he's  that  other  one  that — that — and 
I  give  him  up  to  her;  yes,  I  give  him  up  to  her,  and 
try  to  do  it  cheerful,  because  I  know  it's  best  for 
him.  Hard  for  you?  Great  Lord  A'mighty !  do 
you  think  it  ain't  hard  for  me?  I — I— 

She  stopped  short;  then  covering  her  face  with 
her  apron,  she  ran  from  the  room.  John  Ellery 
heard  her  descending  the  stairs,  sobbing  as  she  went. 

All  that  afternoon  he  remained  in  his  chair  by 
the  window.  It  was  six  o'clock,  supper  time,  when 
he  entered  the  kitchen.  Keziah,  looking  up  from 
the  ironing  board,  saw  him.  He  was  white  and  worn 
and  grim,  but  he  held  out  his  hand  to  her. 

"  Mrs.  Coffin,"  he  said,  "  I'm  not  going  away. 
You've  shown  me  what  devotion  to  duty  really  means. 
I  shall  stay  here  and  go  on  with  my  work." 

Her  face  lit  up.  "Will  you?"  she  said.  "I 
thought  you  would.  I  was  sure  you  was  that  kind." 


CHAPTER   XIV 

IN    WHICH    THE    SEA    MIST    SAILS 

THEY  buried  Captain  Eben  in  the  little 
Come-Outer  cemetery  at  the  rear  of  the 
chapel.  A  bleak,  wind-swept  spot  was  that 
cemetery,  bare  of  trees  and  with  only  a  few  graves 
and  fewer  headstones,  for  the  Come-Outers  were  a 
comparatively  new  sect  and  their  graveyard  was  new 
in  consequence.  The  grave  was  dug  in  the  yellow 
sand  beside  that  of  Mrs.  Hammond,  Nat's  mother, 
and  around  it  gathered  the  fifty  or  sixty  friends  who 
had  come  to  pay  their  last  tribute  to  the  old  sailor 
and  tavern  keeper. 

The  Come-Outers  were  there,  all  of  them,  and 
some  members  of  the  Regular  society,  Captain  Zeb 
Mayo,  Dr.  Parker,  Keziah  Coffin,  Mrs.  Higgins, 
and  Ike.  Mrs.  Didama  Rogers  was  there  also,  not  as 
a  mourner,  but  because,  in  her  capacity  as  gatherer 
of  gossip,  she  made  it  a  point  never  to  miss  a  funeral. 
The  Rev.  Absalom  Gott,  Come-Outer  exhorter 
at  Wellmouth,  preached  the  short  sermon,  and  Eze- 
kiel  Bassett  added  a  few  remarks.  Then  a  hymn 
was  sung  and  it  was  over.  The  little  company  filed 
out  of  the  cemetery,  and  Captain  Eben  Hammond 
was  but  a  memory  in  Trumet. 

Keziah  lingered  to  speak  a  word  with  Grace. 
The  girl,  looking  very  white  and  worn,  leaned  on  the 

233 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

arm  of  Captain  Nat,  whose  big  body  acted  as  a  buffer 
between  her  and  oversympathetic  Come-Outers. 
Mrs.  Coffin  silently  held  out  both  hands  and  Grace 
took  them  eagerly. 

u  Thank  you  for  coming,  Aunt  Keziah,"  she 
said.  "  I  was  sure  you  would." 

"  Least  I  could  do,  deary,"  was  the  older  wom 
an's  answer.  "  Your  uncle  and  I  was  good  friends 
once;  we  haven't  seen  each  other  so  often  of  late 
years,  but  that  ain't  changed  my  feelin's.  Now  you 
must  go  home  and  rest.  Don't  let  any  of  these  " 
with  a  rather  scornful  glance  at  Josiah  Badger  and 
Ezekiel  and  the  Reverend  Absalom — "  these  Job's 
comforters  bother  you.  Nat,  you  see  that  they  let 
her  alone,  won't  you?" 

Captain  Nat  nodded.  He,  too,  looked  very  grave 
and  worn.  "  I'll  tend  to  them,"  he  said  shortly. 
"  Come,  Grace,"  he  added;  "  let's  go." 

But  the  girl  hung  back.  "  Just  a  minute,  Nat," 
she  said.  "  I — I — would  you  mind  if  I  spoke  to 
Aunt  Keziah — alone?  I  only  want  to  say  a  word." 

Nat  strode  off  to  the  cemetery  gate,  where  Josiah 
Badger  stood,  brandishing  a  red  cotton  handkerchief 
as  a  not  too-clean  emblem  of  mourning.  Mr.  Badger 
eagerly  sprang  forward,  but  ran  into  an  impossible 
barrier  in  the  form  of  the  captain's  outstretched  arm. 
Josiah  protested  and  the  captain  replied.  Grace 
leaned  forward. 

"Auntie,"  she  whispered,  "tell  me:  Did  a  let 
ter-  Did  he- 

(  Yes,  it  came.     I  gave  it  to  him." 

"  Did — did  he  tell  you?     Do  you  know?" 

"  Yes,  I  know,  deary." 

"  Did  he— is  he " 

234 


THE    SEA    MIST    SAILS 

"  He's  well,  deary.  He'll  be  all  right.  I'll  look 
out  for  him." 

"You  will,  won't  you?  You  won't  let  him  do 
anything — 

"  Not  a  thing.  Don't  worry.  We've  had  a  long 
talk  and  he's  going  to  stay  right  here  and  go  on  with 
his  work.  And  nobody  else'll  ever  know,  Grade." 

"  How—  O  Aunt  Keziah!  how  he  must  despise 
me." 

"  Despise  you!  For  doin'  what  was  your  duty? 
Nonsense !  He'll  respect  you  for  it  and  come  to 
understand  'twas  best  for  both  of  you,  by  and  by. 
Don't  worry  about  him,  Gracie.  I  tell  you  I'll  look 
out  for  him." 

"  I  guess  it  will  be  better  if  he  does  despise  me. 
And  hate  me,  too.  He  can't  despise  and  hate  me 
more  than  I  do  myself.  But  it  is  right — what  I'm 
doing;  and  the  other  was  wrong  and  wicked.  Auntie, 
you'll  come  and  see  me,  won't  you?  I  shall  be  so 
lonesome." 

"Yes,  yes;  I'll  come.  Perhaps  not  right  away. 
There's  reasons  why  I'd  better  not  come  right  away. 
But,  by  and  by,  after  it's  all  settled  and  you  and 
Nat  "  — she  hesitated  for  an  instant  in  spite  of  her 
self—  "  after  you  and  Nat  are  married  I'll  come." 

"  Don't  talk  about  that  now.     Please  don't." 

"  All  right,  I  won't.  You  be  a  good,  brave  girl 
and  look  out  for  Nat;  that's  your  duty  and  I'm  sure 
you'll  do  it.  And  I'll  do  my  best  for  John." 

"  Do  you  call  him  John?  " 

'  Yup.     We   had   a   sort   of — of  adoptin'   cere 
mony  the  other  mornin'  and  I—      Well,  you  see,  I've 
got  to  have  somebody  to  call  by  their  front  name 
and  he's  about  all  I've  got  left." 
17  235 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"O  Aunt  Keziah !  if  I  could  be  one  half  as 
patient  and  brave  and  sweet  as  you  are — 

"  Sssh !  here  comes  Nat.  Be  kind  to  him.  He's 
suffering  too;  maybe  more'n  you  imagine.  Here  she 
is,  Nat.  Take  her  back  home  and  be  good  to  her." 

The  broad-shouldered  skipper  led  his  charge  out 
of  the  gate  and  down  the  "  Turn-off."  Josiah  Badger 
looked  after  them  disgustedly.  As  Keziah  ap 
proached,  he  turned  to  her. 

"I  swan  to  man!"  he  exclaimed,  in  offended 
indignation,  "  if  I  ain't  losin'  my  respect  for  that 
Nat  Hammond.  He's  the  f-f-fuf-for'ardest  critter 
ever  I  see.  I  was  just  agoin'  to  hail  Gracie  and  ask 
her  what  she  thought  about  my  leadin'  some  of  the 
meetin's  now  her  uncle  has  been  called  aloft.  I 
wanted  to  ask  her  about  it  fust,  afore  Zeke  Bassett 
got  ahead  of  me,  but  that  Nat  wouldn't  let  me. 
Told  me  she  mustn't  be  b-b-b-bothered  about  little 
things  now.  Little  things !  Now,  what  do  you  think 
of  that,  Mrs.  Coffin?  And  I  spoke  to  Lot  Taylor, 
one  of  our  own  s-s-sas-sassiety,  and  asked  what 
he  thought  of  it,  and  he  said  for  me  to  go  home 
set  d-d-down  and  let  my  h-h-h-hah-hair  grow. 
Of  all- 

"  I  tell  you  what  you  do,  Josiah,"  broke  in  the 
voice  of  Captain  Zeb  Mayo,  "  you  go  home  or  some 
where  else  and  set  down  and  have  it  cut.  That'll 
take  pretty  nigh  as  long,  and'll  keep  it  from  wearin' 
out  your  coat  collar.  Keziah,  I've  been  waitin'  for 
you.  Get  in  my  shay  and  I'll  drive  you  back  to 
the  parsonage." 

Mrs.  Coffin  accepted  the  invitation  and  a  seat 
in  the  chaise  beside  Captain  Zeb.  The  captain  spoke 
of  the  dead  Come-Outer  and  of  his  respect  for  him 

236 


THE    SEA    MIST    SAILS 

in  spite  of  the  difference  in  creed.  He  also  spoke 
of  the  Rev.  John  Ellery  and  of  the  affection  he  had 
come  to  feel  for  the  young  man. 

"  I  like  that  young  feller,  Keziah,"  he  said. 
"  Like  him  '"or  a  lot  of  reasons,  same  as  the  boy 
liked  the  hash.  For  one  thing,  his  religion  ain't  all 
starch  and  no  sugar.  He's  good-hearted  and  kind 
and — and  human.  He  seems  to  get  just  as  much 
satisfaction  out  of  the  promise  of  heaven  as  he  does 
out  of  the  sartainty  of  t'other  port.  He  ain't  all  the 
time  bangin'  the  bulkhead  and  sniffin'  brimstone, 
like  parsons  I  have  seen.  Sulphur's  all  right  for  a 
spring  medicine,  maybe,  but  when  June  comes  I  like 
to  remember  that  God  made  roses.  Elkanah,  he 
comes  to  me  a  while  ago  and  he  says,  '  Zebedee,'  he 
says,  '  don't  you  think  Mr.  Ellery's  sermons  might 
be  more  orthodox?  '  '  Yes,'  says  I,  '  they  might  be, 
but  what  a  mercy  'tis  they  ain't.'  He,  he,  he!  I  kind 
of  like  to  poke  Elkanah  in  the  shirt  front  once  in  a 
while,  just  to  hear  it  crackle.  Say,  Keziah,  you  don't 
think  the  minister  and  Annabel  are — 

"No,"  was  the  emphatic  interruption;  "  I  know 
they  ain't;  he  ain't,  anyway." 

"Good!  Them  Danielses  cal'late  they  own  the 
most  of  this  town  already;  if  they  owned  the  minister 
they'd  swell  up  so  the  rest  of  us  would  have  to  go 
aloft  or  overboard;  we'd  be  crowded  off  the  decks, 
sure." 

"  No  one  owns  him.  Haven't  you  found  that 
out?" 

"  Yup,  I  cal'late  I  have  and  I  glory  in  his 
spunk." 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  you  say  so.  Of  course  Cap'n 
Elkanah  is  boss  of  the  parish  committee  and " 

237 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  What?  No,  he  ain't  nuther.  He's  head  of  it, 
but  his  vote  counts  just  one  and  no  more.  What 
makes  you  say  that?  " 

"  Oh,  nuthin'.  Only  I  thought  maybe,  long  as 
Elkanah  was  feelin'  that  Mr.  Ellery  wa'n't  or 
thodox  enough,  he  might  be  goin'  to  make  a 
change." 

"He  might?  He  might!  Say,  Keziah  Coffin, 
there  was  Mayos  in  this  town  and  in  this  church 
afore  the  fust  Daniels  ever  washed  ashore;  and 
they'll  be  here  when  the  last  one  blows  up  with  his 
own  importance.  I'm  on  that  parish  committee — 
you  understand? — and  I've  sailed  ships  and  handled 
crews.  I  ain't  so  old  nor  feeble  but  what  I  can 
swing  a  belayin'  pin.  Boss !  I'll  have  you  to  know 
that  no  livin'  man  bosses  me." 

"  All  right !  I  didn't  mean  to  stir  you  up,  Zebe- 
dee.  But  from  things  Cap'n  Daniels  has  said  I 
gathered  that  he  was  runnin'  the  committee.  And, 
as  I'm  a  friend  of  Mr.  Ellery,  it— 

"  Friend!  Well,  so'm  I,  ain't  I?  If  you  ever 
hear  of  Daniels  tryin'  any  tricks  against  the  minister, 
you  send  for  me,  that's  all.  /'//  show  him.  Boss ! 
Humph !  " 

The  wily  Keziah  alighted  at  the  parsonage  gate, 
with  the  feeling  that  she  had  sown  seed  in  fertile 
ground.  She  was  quite  aware  of  Captain  Zeb's  jeal 
ousy  of  the  great  Daniels.  And  the  time  might  come 
when  her  parson  needed  an  influential  friend  on  the 
committee  and  in  the  Regular  society. 

The  news  of  the  engagement  between  Captain 
Nat  Hammond  and  Grace  Van  Home,  told  by 
Dr.  Parker  to  one  or  two  of  his  patients,  spread 
through  Trumet  like  measles  through  a  family  of 

238 


THE    SEA    MIST    SAILS 

small  children.  Didama  Rogers  learned  It,  so  did 
Lavinia  Pepper,  and  after  that  it  might  as  well  have 
been  printed  on  the  walls  for  all  to  read.  It  was 
talked  over  and  gossiped  about  in  every  household 
from  the  lighthouse  keeper's  family  to  that  of  George 
Washington  Cash,  who  lived  in  the  one-room  hovel 
in  the  woods  near  the  Wellmouth  line,  and  was  a 
person  of  distinction,  in  his  way,  being  the  sole  negro 
in  the  county.  And  whenever  it  was  discussed  it  was 
considered  a  fine  thing  for  both  parties  concerned. 
Almost  everyone  said  it  was  precisely  what  they 
expected. 

Annabel  Daniels  and  her  father  had  not  expected 
it.  They  were,  however,  greatly  pleased.  In  their 
discussion,  which  lasted  far  into  the  night,  Captain 
Elkanah  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  unexpected 
denouement  was  the  result  of  his  interview  with 
Eben.  He  had  told  the  old  Come-Outer  what  would 
happen  to  his  ward  if  she  persisted  in  her  impudent 
and  audacious  plot  to  entrap  a  Regular  clergyman. 
She,  being  discovered,  had  yielded,  perforce,  and 
had  accepted  Nat  as  the  next  best  catch. 

Annabel  was  not  satisfied  with  this  explanation. 
Of  course,  she  said,  she  did  not  pretend  to  believe 
Grace's  statement  that  she  had  found  her  uncle  un 
conscious.  No  doubt  the  pair  had  had  an  interview 
and  all  that.  But  she  believed  the  minister  himself 
had  come  to  his  senses  and  had  dismissed  the  brazen 
creature.  She  did  not  blame  Mr.  Ellery  so  much. 
He  was  a  young  man,  with  a  kind  heart,  and  no 
doubt  the  "  Van  Home  person  "  had  worked  upon 
his  sympathies  and  had  taken  advantage  of  his  inex 
perience  of  feminine  wiles. 

"  /  think,  pa,"  she  said,  "  that  it's  our  duty,  yours 
239 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

and  mine,  to  treat  him  just  as  we  always  have.  He 
doesn't  know  that  we  know,  and  we  will  keep  the 
secret.  And,  as  Christians,  we  should  forget  and  for 
give.  We'll  invite  him  here  as  we  always  have,  keep 
him  under  our  good  influence,  and  be  very  kind  to 
him,  poor  innocent.  As  for  Captain  Hammond,  I'm 
sorry  for  him,  knowing  the  kind  of  wife  he  is  going 
to  have,  but  no  doubt  Come-Outers  are  not  par 
ticular." 

Kyan  Pepper  was  another  whom  the  news  of 
the  engagement  surprised  greatly.  When  Lavinia 
told  him  of  it,  at  the  dinner  table,  he  dropped  the 
knife  he  was  holding  and  the  greasy  section  of  fish- 
ball  balanced  upon  it. 

'  'Bishy,"  said  Miss  Pepper,  "  what  do  you 
s'pose  has  happened  down  to  the  Hammond  tav 
ern?" 

"  Oh,  I  know  that,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  heard 
that  long  ago;  Cap'n  Eben's  dead." 

''Course  he's  dead;  and  I  knew  you  knew  it. 
Land  sakes !  don't  be  such  a  ninny.  Why,  I  told 
you  myself." 

"  Well,  I  didn't  know  but  you'd  forgot.  Any 
body's  li'ble  to  forget  who  they've  told  things  to. 
Why,  I've  forgot  more  things — 

'  Yes,  there  ain't  no  doubt  about  that.  I've  told 
you  a  million  times,  if  I  have  once,  to  tuck  your 
napkin  round  your  neck  when  you've  got  your  Sun 
day  clothes  on.  And  there  you  be  this  minute  with 
out  a  sign  of  a  napkin." 

"  Why,  Laviny !  I  must  have  it  round  my  neck. 
I  know  I- " 

"  Don't  be  so  foolish  !  Think  I'm  blind  ?  Can't 
I  see  you  ain't  got  it?  Now  where  is  it?  " 

240 


THE   SEA    MIST   SAILS 

Kyan  began  a  futile  hunt  for  the  missing  napkin, 
in  his  lap,  on  the  table,  and  finally  under  it. 

"  I  don't  understand,"  he  stammered,  "  where 
that  napkin  can  be.  I'm  just  as  sure  I  had  it  and 
now  I'm  just  as  sure  I  ain't  got  it.  What  do  you 
s'pose  I  done  with  it?  " 

"Goodness  knows!  'Twouldn't  surprise  me  if 
you'd  et  it,  you're  that  absent-minded.  Here !  what's 
that  stickin'  out  of  your  breast  pocket?  " 

Her  brother  put  his  hand  to  the  pocket  indicated 
and  produced  the  missing  napkin,  much  crumpled. 

"There!"  he  exclaimed,  in  a  tone  of  relief. 
"  Now  I  remember.  It  must  have  dropped  on  the 
floor  and  I  thought  'twas  my  handkerchief  and 
picked  it  up  and— 

"  What  did  you  think  you'd  be  carryin'  a  white 
handkerchief  for,  on  a  week  day?  " 

"  Well,  I  had  on  my  Sunday  suit  and— 
'  Yes,  and  for  the  dear  mercy  sakes  u-hy  have 
you  got  it  on  ?  " 

Kyan  saw  an  opportunity  for  self-justification. 
'  You   told  me  to   put   it  on,"   he   declared   tri 
umphantly.       '  You  said  yourself  I'd  better  rig  out 
in  my  Sunday  clothes  'cause  we  might  go  to  Eben's 
funeral.     You  know  you  did." 

"  Hear  the  man  !  And  then,  after  you've  dressed 
up  to  go  to  his  funeral,  you  pretend  to  believe  I'm 
goin'  to  tell  you  he's  dead.  I  never " 

"Well,  what  is  it,  then?  He  ain't  come  to  life, 
has  he?" 

"  Grace  Van  Home's  engaged  to  be  married, 
that's  what  it  is.  Look  out !  Oh,  you— 

Just  here  occurred  the  accident  already  described. 
Knife  and  fish  ball  descended  upon  the  waistcoat 

241 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

belonging  to  the  "  Sunday  suit."  Lavinia  flew  for 
warm  water,  ammonia,  and  a  cloth,  and  the  soiled 
waistcoat  was  industriously  scrubbed.  The  cleansing 
process  was  accompanied  by  a  lively  tongue  lashing, 
to  which  Kyan  paid  little  attention. 

"Engaged?"  he  kept  repeating.  "  Gracie  Van 
Home  engaged?  Engaged?  En— 

"Be  still,  you  poll  parrot!  Dear!  dear!  dear! 
look  at  them  spots.  Yes,  yes;  don't  say  it  again; 
she's  engaged." 

"  Who— who— who " 

"  Now  you've  turned  to  an  owl,  I  do  believe. 
'  Hoo !  hoo !  '  She's  engaged  to  Nat  Hammond, 
that's  who.  Nothin'  very  surprisin'  about  that,  is 
there?" 

Kyan  made  no  answer.  He  rubbed  his  forehead, 
while  his  sister  rubbed  the  grease  spots.  In  jerky 
sentences  she  told  of  the  engagement  and  how  the 
news  had  reached  her. 

11  I  can't  believe  it,"  faltered  Abishai.  "  She 
goin'  to  marry  Nat!  Why,  I  can't  understand.  I 
thought " 

"What  did  you  think?  See  here!  you  ain't 
keepin'  anything  from  me,  be  you  ?  " 

The  answer  was  enthusiastically  emphatic. 

"No,  no,  no,  no!"  declared  Kyan.  "Only  I 
didn't  know  they  was — was ' 

"Neither  did  anybody  else,  but  what  of  it? 
Folks  don't  usually  advertise  when  they're  keepin' 
comp'ny,  do  they?" 

"  No — o.  But  it's  gen'rally  found  out.  I  know 
if  I  was  keepin'  comp'ny — or  you  was,  La- 
viny- 


His  sister  started. 

242 


THE   SEA    MIST   SAILS 

;{  What  makes  you  say  that?"  she  demanded, 
looking  quickly  up  from  her  rubbing. 

'  Why,  nothin'.  Only  if  I  was- — or  you  was, 
somebody'd  see  somethin'  suspicious  and  kind  of 
drop  a  hint,  and— 

"  Better  for  them  if  they  'tended  to  their  own 
affairs,"  was  the  sharp  answer.  "  I  ain't  got  any  pa 
tience  with  folks  that's  always  talkin'  about  their 
neighbor's  doin's.  There !  now  you  go  out  and  stand 
alongside  the  cook  stove  till  that  wet  place  dries. 
Don't  you  move  till  'tis  dry,  neither.'" 

So  to  the  kitchen  went  Kyan,  to  stand,  a  sort  of 
living  clotheshorse,  beside  the  hot  range.  But  dur 
ing  the  drying  process  he  rubbed  his  forehead  many 
times.  Remembering  what  he  had  seen  in  the  grove 
he  could  not  understand;  but  he  also  remembered, 
even  more  vividly,  what  Keziah  Coffin  had  promised 
to  do  if  he  ever  breathed  a  word.  And  he  vowed 
again  that  that  word  should  not  be  breathed. 

The  death  and  funeral  of  Captain  Eben  fur 
nished  Trumet  with  a  subject  of  conversation  for  a 
week  or  more.  Then,  at  the  sewing  circle  and  at  the 
store  and  after  prayer  meeting,  both  at  the  Regular 
meeting  house  and  the  Come-Outer  chapel,  specula 
tion  centered  on  the  marriage  of  Nat  and  Grace. 
When  was  it  to  take  place?  Would  the  couple  live 
at  the  old  house  and  "  keep  packet  tavern  "  or  would 
the  captain  go  to  sea  again,  taking  his  bride  with 
him?  Various  opinions,  pro  and  con,  were  expressed 
by  the  speculators,  but  no  one  could  answer  authori 
tatively,  because  none  knew  except  those  most  in 
terested,  and  the  latter  would  not  tell. 

John  Ellery  heard  the  discussions  at  the  sewing 
circle  when,  in  company  with  some  of  the  men  of  his 

243 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

congregation,  he  dropped  in  at  these  gatherings  for 
tea  after  the  sewing  was  over.  He  heard  them  at 
church,  before  and  after  the  morning  service,  and 
when  he  made  pastoral  calls.  People  even  asked  his 
opinion,  and  when  he  changed  the  subject  inferred, 
some  of  them,  that  he  did  not  care  about  the  doings 
of  Come-Outers.  Then  they  switched  to  inquiries 
concerning  his  health. 

"  You  look  awful  peaked  lately,    Mr.   Ellery," 
said  Didama  Rogers.     "Ain't  you  feelin'  well?" 

The  minister  answered  that  he  was  as  well  as 
usual,  or  thought  he  was. 

"  No,  no,  you  ain't  nuther,"  declared  Didama. 
'  You  look's  if  you  was  comin'  down  with  a  spell  of 
somethin'.  I  ain't  the  only  one  that's  noticed  it. 
Why,  Thankful  Payne  says  to  me  only  yesterday, 
1  Didama,'  says  she,  '  the  minister's  got  somethin'  on 
his  mind  and  it's  wearin'  of  him  out.'  You  ain't  got 
nothin'  on  your  mind,  have  you,  Mr.  Ellery?  " 

"  I  guess  not,  Mrs.  Rogers.  It's  a  beautiful  af 
ternoon,  isn't  it?  " 

'There!  I  knew  you  wa'n't  well.  A  beautiful 
afternoon,  and  it  hotter'n  furyation  and  gettin'  ready 
to  rain  at  that!  Don't  tell  me !  Tain't  your  mind, 
Mr.  Ellery,  it's  your  blood  that's  gettin'  thin.  My 
husband  had  a  spell  just  like  it  a  year  or  two  afore 
he  died,  and  the  doctor  said  he  needed  rest  and  a 
change.  Said  he'd  ought  to  go  away  somewheres  by 
himself.  I  put  my  foot  down  on  that  in  a  hurry. 
'  The  idea!  '  I  says.  '  You,  a  sick  man,  goin'  off  all 
alone  by  yourself  to  die  of  lonesomeness.  If  you  go, 
I  go  with  you.'  So  him  and  me  went  up  to  Boston 
and  it  rained  the  whole  week  we  was  there,  and  we 
set  in  a  little  box  of  a  hotel  room  with  a  window  that 

244 


THE    SEA    MIST    SAILS 

looked  out  at  a  brick  wall,  and  set  and  set  and  set, 
and  that's  all.  I  kept  talkin'  to  him  to  cheer  him  up, 
but  he  never  cheered.  I'd  talk  to  him  for  an  hour 
steady  and  when  I'd  stop  and  ask  a  question  he'd 
only  groan  and  say  yes,  when  he  meant  no.  Finally, 
I  got  disgusted,  after  I'd  asked  him  somethin'  four 
or  five  times  and  he'd  never  answered,  and  I  told 
him  I  believed  he  was  gettin'  deef.  'Lordy!'  he 
says,  '  I  wish  I  was !  '  Well,  that  was  enough  for 
me.  Says  I,  '  If  your  mind's  goin'  to  give  out  we'd 
better  be  home.'  So  home  we  come.  And  that's  all 
the  good  change  and  rest  done  him.  Hey?  What 
did  you  say,  Mr.  Ellery?" 

"  Er — oh,  nothing,  nothing,  Mrs.  Rogers." 
"  Yes.  So  home  we  come  and  I'd  had  enough  of 
doctors  to  last.  I  figgered  out  that  his  blood  was 
thinnin'  and  I  knew  what  was  good  for  that.  My 
great  Aunt  Hepsy,  that  lived  over  to  East  Well- 
mouth,  she  was  a  great  hand  for  herbs  and  such  and 
she'd  give  me  a  receipt  for  thickenin'  the  blood  that 
was  somethin'  wonderful.  It  had  more  kind  of 
healin'  herbs  in  it  than  you  could  shake  a  stick  at.  I 
cooked  a  kittleful  and  got  him  to  take  a  dose  four 
times  a  day.  He  made  more  fuss  than  a  young  one 
about  takin'  it.  Said  it  tasted  like  the  Evil  One,  and 
such  profane  talk,  and  that  it  stuck  to  his  mouth  so's 
he  couldn't  relish  his  vittles;  but  I  never  let  up  a 
mite.  He  had  to  take  it  and  it  done  him  a  world 
of  good.  Now  I've  got  that  receipt  yet,  Mr.  Ellery, 
and  I'll  make  some  of  that  medicine  for  you.  I'll 
fetch  it  down  to-morrow.  Yes,  yes,  I  will.  I'm 
agoin'  to,  so  you  needn't  say  no.  And  perhaps  I'll 
have  heard  somethin'  about  Cap'n  Nat  and  Grace  by 
that  time." 

245 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

She  brought  the  medicine,  and  the  minister 
promptly,  on  her  departure,  handed  it  over  to  Ke- 
ziah,  who  disposed  of  it  just  as  promptly. 

"What  did  I  do  with  it?"  repeated  the  house 
keeper.  "  Well,  I'll  tell  you.  I  was  kind  of  curious 
to  see  what  'twas  like,  so  I  took  a  teaspoon ful.  I  did 
intend  to  pour  the  rest  of  it  out  in  the  henyard,  but 
after  that  taste  I  had  too  much  regard  for  the  hens. 
So  I  carried  it  way  down  to  the  pond  and  threw  it  in, 
jug  and  all.  B-r-r-r !  Of  all  the  messes  that — I  used 
to  wonder  what  made  Josh  Rogers  go  moonin'  round 
makin'  his  lips  go  as  if  he  was  crazy.  I  thought  he 
was  talkin'  to  himself,  but  now  I  know  better,  he  was 
tastin'.  B-r-r-r!" 

Keziah  was  the  life  of  the  gloomy  parsonage. 
Without  her  the  minister  would  have  broken  down. 
Time  and  time  again  he  was  tempted  to  give  up,  in 
spite  of  his  promise,  and  leave  Trumet,  but  her  pluck 
and  courage  made  him  ashamed  of  himself  and  he 
stayed  to  fight  it  out.  She  watched  him  and  tended 
him  and  "  babied"  him  as  if  he  was  a  spoiled  child, 
pretending  to  laugh  at  herself  for  doing  it  and  at  him 
for  permitting  it.  She  cooked  the  dishes  he  liked 
best,  she  mended  his  clothes,  she  acted  as  a  buffer 
between  him  and  callers  who  came  at  inopportune 
times.  She  was  cheerful  always  when  he  was  about, 
and  no  one  would  have  surmised  that  she  had  a  sor 
row  in  the  world.  But  Ellery  knew  and  she  knew  he 
knew,  so  the  affection  and  mutual  esteem  between  the 
two  deepened.  He  called  her  "  Aunt  Keziah  "  at 
her  request  and  she  continued  to  call  him  "  John." 
This  was  in  private,  of  course;  in  public  he  was 
"  Mr.  Ellery  "  and  she  "  Mrs.  Coffin." 

In  his  walks  about  town  he  saw  nothing  of  Grace. 
246 


THE    SEA    MIST    SAILS 

She  and  Mrs.  Poundberry  and  Captain  Nat  were  still 
at  the  old  home  and  no  one  save  themselves  knew 
what  their  plans  might  be.  Yet,  oddly  enough,  El- 
lery  was  the  first  outsider  to  learn  these  plans  and 
that  from  Nat  himself. 

He  met  the  captain  at  the  corner  of  the  "  Turn- 
off  "  one  day  late  in  August.  He  tried  to  make  his 
bow  seem  cordial,  but  was  painfully  aware  that  it  was 
not.  Nat,  however,  seemed  not  to  notice,  but  crossed 
the  road  and  held  out  his  hand. 

"How  are  you,  Mr.  Ellery?"  he  said.  "I 
haven't  run  across  you  for  sometime.  What's  the 
matter?  Seems  to  me  you  look  rather  under  the 
weather." 

Ellery  answered  that  he  was  all  right  and,  re 
membering  that  he  had  not  met  the  captain  since  old 
Hammond's  death,  briefly  expressed  his  sympathy. 
His  words  were  perfunctory  and  his  manner  cold. 
His  reason  told  him  that  this  man  was  not  to  blame 
— was  rather  to  be  pitied,  if  Keziah's  tale  was  true. 
Yet  it  is  hard  to  pity  the  one  who  is  to  marry  the  girl 
you  love.  Reason  has  little  to  do  with  such  matters. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Ellery,"  said  Captain  Nat,  "  I  won't 
keep  you.  I  see  you're  in  a  hurry.  Just  thought  I'd 
run  alongside  a  minute  and  say  good-by.  Don't 
know's  I'll  see  you  again  afore  I  sail." 

"  Before  you  sail?   You — you  are  going  away?" 

"  Yup.  My  owners  have  been  after  me  for  a 
good  while,  but  I  wouldn't  leave  home  on  account  of 
dad's  health.  Now  he's  gone,  I've  got  to  be  gettin' 
back  on  salt  water  again.  My  ship's  been  drydocked 
and  overhauled  and  she's  in  New  York  now  loadin' 
for  Manila.  It's  a  long  vy'age,  even  if  I  come  back 
direct,  which  ain't  likely.  So  I  may  not  see  the  old 

247 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

town  again  for  a  couple  of  years.  Take  care  of  your 
self,  won't  you?  Good  men,  especially  ministers,  are 
scurse,  and  from  what  I  hear  about  you  I  cal'late 
Trumet  needs  you." 

"  When  are  you  going?  " 

"  Last  of  next  week,  most  likely." 

"  Will  you — shall  you  go  alone  ?  Are  you  to  be 
_to  be " 

"Married?  No.  Grace  and  I  have  talked  it 
over  and  we've  agreed  it's  best  to  wait  till  I  come 
back.  You  see,  dad's  been  dead  such  a  little  while, 
and  all,  that — well,  we're  goin'  to  wait,  anyhow. 
She'll  stay  in  the  old  house  with  Hannah,  and  I've 
fixed  things  so  she'll  be  provided  for  while  I'm  gone. 
I  left  it  pretty  much  to  her.  If  she'd  thought  it  best 
for  us  to  marry  now,  I  cal'late  I  should  have — have 
— well,  done  what  she  wanted.  But  she  didn't.  Ah, 
hum!"  he  added  with  a  sigh;  "she's  a  good  girl, 
a  mighty  good  girl.  Well,  so  long  and  good  luck." 

"  Good-by,  captain." 

"Good-by.  Er — I  say,  Mr.  Ellery,  how's 
things  at  the  parsonage?  All  well  there,  are  you?  " 

'  Yes." 

"  Er — Keziah — Mrs.  Coffin,  your  housekeeper, 
is  she  smart?  " 

•'  Yes.     She's  well." 

'  That's  good.  Say,  you  might  tell  her  good-by 
for  me,  if  you  want  to.  Tell  her  I  wished  her  all  the 
luck  there  was.  And — and — just  say  that  there  ain't 
any — well,  that  her  friend — say  just  that,  will  you? 
—her  friend  said^'twas  all  right.  She'll  understand; 
it's  a — a  sort  of  joke  between  us." 

I  Very  good,  captain;  I'll  tell  her." 

"  Much  obliged.  And  just  ask  her  to  keep  an 
248 


THE    SEA    MIST    SAILS 

eye  on  Grace  while  I'm  gone.  Tell  her  I  leave 
Gracie  under  her  wing.  Keziah  and  me  are  old 
chums,  in  a  way,  you  see." 

"  Yes.     I'll  tell  her  that,  too." 

"  And  don't  forget  the  '  friend  '  part.  *  Well,  so 
long." 

They  shook  hands  and  parted. 

Didama  and  her  fellow  news-venders  distributed 
the  tale  of  Captain  Nat's  sailing  broadcast  during 
the  next  few  days.  There  was  much  wonderment 
at  the  delayed  marriage,  but  the  general  verdict  was 
that  Captain  Eben's  recent  death  and  the  proper  re 
spect  due  to  it  furnished  sufficient  excuse.  Hannah 
Poundberry,  delighted  at  being  so  close  to  the  center 
of  interest,  talked  and  talked,  and  thus  Grace  was 
spared  the  interviews  which  would  have  been  a 
trouble  to  her.  Nat  left  town,  via  the  packet,  on  the 
following  Wednesday.  Within  another  week  came 
the  news  that  his  ship,  the  Sea  Mist,  had  sailed  from 
New  York,  bound  for  Manila.  Her  topsails  sank 
beneath  the  horizon  and  she  vanished  upon  the  wild 
waste  of  tumbling  waves  and  out  of  Trumet's  knowl 
edge,  as  many  another  vessel,  manned  and  officered 
by  Cape  Cod  men,  had  done.  The  village  talked  of 
her  and  her  commander  for  a  few  days  and  then  for 
got  them  both.  Only  at  the  old  home  by  the  landing 
and  at  the  parsonage  were  they  remembered. 


CHAPTER    XV 

IN    WHICH    TRUMET   TALKS    OF    CAPTAIN    NAT 

SUMMER  was  over,  autumn  came,  passed, 
and  it  was  winter — John  Ellery's  first  winter 
in  Trumet.  Fish  weirs  were  taken  up,  the  bay 
filled  with  ice,  the  packet  ceased  to  run,  and  the  vil 
lage  settled  down  to  hibernate  until  spring.  The 
stage  came  through  on  its  regular  trips,  except  when 
snow  or  slush  rendered  the  roads  impassable,  but 
passengers  were  very  few.  Occasionally  there  were 
northeast  gales,  with  shrieking  winds,  driving  gusts 
of  sleet  and  hail  and  a  surf  along  the  ocean  side  that 
bellowed  and  roared  and  tore  the  sandy  beach  into 
new  shapes,  washing  away  shoals  and  building  oth 
ers,  blocking  the  mouth  of  the  little  inlet  where  the 
fish  boats  anchored  and  opening  a  new  channel  a  hun 
dred  yards  farther  down.  Twice  there  were  wrecks, 
one  of  a  fishing  schooner,  the  crew  of  which  were  for 
tunate  enough  to  escape  by  taking  to  the  dories,  and 
another,  a  British  bark,  which  struck  on  the  farthest 
bar  and  was  beaten  to  pieces  by  the  great  waves, 
while  the  townspeople  stood  helplessly  watching 
from  the  shore,  for  launching  a  boat  in  that  surf  was 
impossible. 

The  minister  was  one  of  those  who  watched. 
News  of  the  disaster  had  been  brought  to  the  village 
by  the  lightkeeper's  assistant,  and  Ellery  and  most  of 

250 


TRUMET    TALKS 

the  able-bodied  men  in  town  had  tramped  the  three 
miles  to  the  beach,  facing  the  screaming  wind  and  the 
cutting  blasts  of  flying  sand.  As  they  came  over  the 
dunes  there  were  times  when  they  had  to  dig  their 
heels  into  the  ground  and  bend  forward  to  stand 
against  the  freezing  gale.  And,  as  they  drew  nearer, 
the  thunder  of  the  mighty  surf  grew  ever  louder, 
until  they  saw  the  white  clouds  of  spray  leap  high 
above  the  crazily  tossing,  flapping  bunches  of  beach 
grass  that  topped  the  last  knoll. 

Three  masts  and  a  broken  bowsprit  sticking 
slantwise  up  from  a  whirl  of  creamy  white,  that  was 
all  they  could  see  of  the  bark,  at  first  glance.  But 
occasionally,  as  the  breakers  drew  back  for  another 
cruel  blow,  they  caught  glimpses  of  the  tilted  deck, 
smashed  bare  of  houses  and  rail. 

"Those  black  things  on  the  masts?"  asked  El- 
lery,  bending  to  scream  the  question  into  the  ear  of 
Gaius  Winslow,  his  companion.  "  Are  they — it  can't 
be  possible  that  they're — 

"  Yup,"  shrieked  Gaius  in  reply,  "  they're  men. 
Crew  lashed  in  the  riggin'.  Poor  fellers !  it'll  soon 
be  over  for  'em.  And  they're  most  likely  frozen  stiff 
a'ready  and  won't  sense  drownin',  that's  a  comfort." 

"  Men !  "  repeated  the  minister  in  horror. 
"  Men !  Great  God !  and  are  we  to  stand  by  here 
and  see  them  die  without  lifting  a  hand?  Why,  it's 
barbarous !  It's — 

Winslow  seized  his  arm  and  pointed. 

"  Look!  "  he  shouted.  "  Look  at  them!  How 
much  good  would  our  liftin'  hands  do  against 
them?" 

Ellery  looked.  The  undertow,  that  second,  was 
sucking  the  beach  dry,  sucking  with  such  force  that 
18  251 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

gravel  and  small  stones  pattered  down  the  slope  in 
showers.  And  behind  it  a  wave,  its  ragged  top  rav 
eled  by  the  wind  into  white  streamers,  was  piling  up, 
up,  up,  sheer  and  green  and  mighty,  curling  over  now 
and  descending  with  a  hammer  blow  that  shook  the 
land  beneath  their  feet.  And  back  of  it  reared  an 
other,  and  another,  and  another,  an  eighth  of  a  mile 
of  whirling,  surging,  terrific  breakers,  with  a  yelling 
hurricane  whipping  them  on. 

It  was  soon  over,  as  Gaius  had  said  it  would  be. 
A  mighty  leap  of  spray,  a  section  of  hull  broken  off 
and  tossed  into  view  for  an  instant,  then  two  of  the 
masts  went  down.  The  other  followed  almost  at 
once.  Then  the  watchers,  most  of  them,  went  back 
to  the  village,  saying  little  or  nothing  and  dispersing 
silently  to  their  homes. 

During  the  next  fortnight  John  Ellery  conducted 
six  funeral  services,  brief  prayers  beside  the  graves 
of  unknown  men  from  that  wreck.  The  bodies,  as 
they  were  washed  ashore,  were  put  into  plain  coffins 
paid  for  by  the  board  of  selectmen,  and  buried  in 
the  corner  of  the  Regular  cemetery  beside  other  waifs 
thrown  up  by  the  sea  in  other  years.  It  was  a  sad 
experience  for  him,  but  it  was  an  experience  and 
tended  to  make  him  forget  his  own  sorrow  just  a 
little.  Or,  if  not  to  forget,  at  least  to  think  of  and 
sympathize  more  keenly  with  the  sorrows  of  others. 
Somewhere,  in  England  or  Ireland  or  scattered  over 
the  wide  world,  there  were  women  and  children 
waiting  for  these  men,  waiting  anxiously  for  news 
of  their  safe  arrival  in  port,  praying  for  them.  When 
he  mentioned  this  thought  to  the  townspeople  they 
nodded  philosophically  and  said  yes,  they  "  pre 
sumed  likely."  As  Captain  Zeb  put  it,  "  Most  sail- 

252 


TRUMET    TALKS 

ors  are  fools  enough  to  get  married,  prob'ly  this  lot 
wa'n't  any  exception."  It  was  no  new  thought  to  him 
or  to  any  other  dweller  in  that  region.  It  was  almost 
a  fixed  certainty  that,  if  you  went  to  sea  long  enough, 
you  were  bound  to  be  wrecked  sometime  or  other. 
The  chances  were  that,  with  ordinary  luck  and  good 
management,  you  would  escape  with  your  life.  Luck, 
good  or  bad,  was  the  risk  of  the  trade;  good  man 
agement  was  expected,  as  a  matter  of  course. 

Mr.  Pepper  made  no  more  calls  at  the  parson 
age,  and  when  the  minister  met  him,  at  church  or 
elsewhere,  seemed  anxious  to  avoid  an  interview. 

"  Well,  Abishai,"  asked  Ellery,  on  one  of  these 
occasions,  "  how  are  you  getting  on  at  home?  Has 
your  sister  locked  you  up  again?  " 

"  No,  sir,  she  ain't,"  replied  Kyan.  "  Laviny, 
she's  sort  of  diff'rent  lately.  She  ain't  nigh  so — so 
down  on  a  feller  as  she  used  to  be.  I  can  get  out 
once  in  a  while  by  myself  nowadays,  when  she  wants 
to  write  a  letter  or  somethin'." 

"  Oh,  she's  writing  letters,  is  she?  " 

"  Um — hm.  Writes  one  about  every  once  in  a 
week.  I  don't  know  who  they're  to,  nuther,  but  I 
have  my  suspicions.  You  see,  we've  got  a  cousin  out 
West — out  Pennsylvany  way — and  he  ain't  very 
well  and  has  got  a  turrible  lot  of  money.  I'm  sort 
of  surmisin'  that  Laviny's  writin'  to  him.  We're 
about  his  only  relations  that's  left  alive  and — and 
so " 

"  I  see."    The  minister  smiled. 

"  Yup.  Laviny's  a  pretty  good  navigator,  fur's 
keepin'  an  eye  to  wind'ard  is  concerned.  She  was 
awful  down  on  Phineas — that's  his  name — 'cause 
he  married  a  Philadelphy  woman,  but  he's  a  widower 

253 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

man  now,  so  I  s'pose  she  feels  better  toward  him. 
She's  talkin'  of  goin'  up  to  Sandwich  pretty  soon." 

"She  is?    Alone?" 

"  So  she  says." 

"To  leave  you  here?  Why!  well,  I'm  sur 
prised." 

"  Godfreys  mighty !  so  be  I.  But  she  says  she 
b'lieves  she  needs  a  change  and  there's  church  con 
ference  up  there,  you  know,  and  she  figgers  that  she 
ain't  been  to  conference  she  don't  know  when.  I 
s'pose  you'll  go,  won't  you,  Mr.  Ellery?  " 

"Probably." 

"  Um — hm.  I  kind  of  wisht  I  was  goin'  my 
self.  'Twill  be  kind  of  lonesome  round  home  with 
out  her." 

Considering  that  that  variety  of  lonesomeness 
had  been  Abishai's  dream  of  paradise  for  years, 
Ellery  thought  his  change  of  heart  a  good  joke  and 
told  Keziah  of  it  when  he  returned  to  the  parsonage. 
The  housekeeper  was  greatly  surprised. 

"Well!  well!  well!"  she  exclaimed.  "  Mir- 
acles'll  never  cease.  I  don't  wonder  so  much  at 
Laviny  wantin'  to  go  to  conference,  but  her  darin' 
to  go  and  leave  Kyan  at  home  is  past  belief.  Why, 
every  time  she's  had  a  cold  her  one  fear  was  that 
she'd  die  and  leave  'Bish  behind  to  be  kidnaped  by 
some  woman.  Kyan  himself  was  sick  once,  and  the 
story  was  that  his  sister  set  side  of  the  bed  night  and 
day  and  read  him  over  and  over  again  that  chapter 
in  the  Bible  that  says  there's  no  marryin'  or  givin'  in 
marriage  in  heaven.  Dr.  Parker  told  me  that  he 
didn't  believe  'Bish  got  ha'f  the  comfort  out  of  that 
passage  that  she  did.  And  now  she's  goin'  to  Sand 
wich  and  leave  him.  I  can't  think  it's  true." 

254 


TRUMET    TALKS 

But  it  was  true,  and  Lavinia  got  herself  elected 
a  delegate  and  went,  in  company  with  Captain  El- 
kanah,  Mrs.  Mayo,  and  others,  to  the  conference. 
She  was  a  faithful  attendant  at  the  meetings  and 
seemed  to  be  having  a  very  good  time.  She  intro 
duced  the  minister  to  one  Caleb  Pratt,  a  resident  of 
Sandwich,  whom  she  said  she  had  known  ever  since 
she  was  a  girl. 

"  Mr.  Pratt's  a  cousin  to  Thankful  Payne  over 
to  home,"  volunteered  Lavinia.  u  You  know  Thank 
ful,  Mr.  Ellery." 

Ellery  did  know  Mrs.  Payne  and  said  so.  Mr. 
Pratt,  who  was  dressed  in  a  new  suit  of  black  which 
appeared  to  hurt  him,  imparted  the  information  that 
he'd  heard  tell  consider'ble  of  Mr.  Ellery. 

"  I  enjoyed  your  sermon  to-night  fust — rate,"  he 
added  solemnly.  "  Fust — rate,  sir — yes." 

"  Did  you,  indeed?     I'm  glad." 

"  Yes,  sir.  You  used  words  in  that  sermon  that 
I  never  heard  afore  in  my  life.  'Twas  grand." 

Lavinia  confided  to  her  pastor  that  Mr.  Pratt 
made  the  best  shoes  in  Ostable  County.  He  could 
fit  any  kind  of  feet,  she  declared,  and  the  minister 
ought  to  try  him  sometime.  She  added  that  he  had 
money  in  the  bank. 

The  Reverend  John  rode  home  in  the  stage  beside 
Miss  Annabel,  not  from  choice,  but  because  the 
young  lady's  father  insisted  upon  it.  Miss  Daniels 
gushed  and  enthused  as  she  always  did.  As  they 
drove  by  the  Corners  the  minister,  who  had  been 
replying  absently  to  Annabel's  questions,  suddenly 
stopped  short  in  the  middle  of  a  sentence.  His 
companion,  leaning  forward  to  look  out  of  the  win 
dow,  saw  Grace  Van  Home  entering  the  store.  For 

255 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

an  instant  Annabel's  face  wore  a  very  unpleasant  ex 
pression.  Then  she  smiled  and  said,  in  her  sweetest 
manner: 

"  Why,  there's  the  tavern  girl !  I  haven't  seen 
her  for  sometime.  How  old  she  looks !  I  suppose 
her  uncle's  death  has  aged  her.  Well,  she'll  be  mar 
ried  soon,  just  as  soon  as  Cap'n  Nat  gets  back.  They 
perfectly  worship  each  other,  those  two.  They  say 
she  writes  him  the  longest  letters.  Hannah  Pound- 
berry  told  me.  Hannah's  a  queer  creature  and  com 
mon,  but  devoted  to  the  Hammonds,  Mr.  Ellery. 
However,  you're  not  interested  in  Come-Outers,  are 
you?  Ha,  ha!" 

Ellery  made  some  sort  of  an  answer,  but  he  could 
not  have  told  what  it  was.  The  sight  of  Grace  had 
brought  back  all  that  he  was  trying  so  hard  to  forget. 
Why  couldn't  one  forget,  when  it  was  so  painful — 
and  so  useless — to  remember? 

Spring  once  more;  then  summer.  And  now  peo 
ple  were  again  speaking  of  Captain  Nat  Hammond. 
His  ship  was  overdue,  long  overdue.  Even  in  those 
days,  when  there  were  no  cables  and  the  telegraph 
was  still  something  of  a  novelty,  word  of  his  arrival 
should  have  reached  Trumet  months  before  this. 
But  it  had  not  come,  and  did  not.  Before  the  sum 
mer  was  over,  the  wise  heads  of  the  retired  skippers 
were  shaking  dubiously.  Something  had  happened 
to  the  Sea  Mist,  something  serious. 

As  the  weeks  and  months  went  by  without  news 
of  the  missing  vessel,  this  belief  became  almost  a 
certainty.  At  the  Come-Outer  chapel,  where  Eze- 
kiel  Bassett  now  presided,  prayers  were  offered  for 
the  son  of  their  former  leader.  These  prayers  were 
not  as  fervent  as  they  might  have  been,  for  Grace's 

256 


TRUMET   TALKS 

nonattendance  at  meetings  was  causing  much  com 
ment  and  a  good  deal  of  resentment.  She  came 
occasionally,  but  not  often.  "  I  always  said  she  was 
stuck-up  and  thought  she  was  too  good  for  the  rest 
of  us,"  remarked  "  Sukey  B."  spitefully.  "'  And, 
between  you  and  me,  pa  says  he  thinks.  Nat  Ham 
mond  would  be  one  to  uphold  her  in  it.  He  wa'n't 
a  bit  spirituous  and  never  experienced  religion.  If 
anything  has  happened  to  him,  it's  a  punishment  sent, 
that's  what  pa  thinks." 

Those  were  gloomy  days  at  the  parsonage. 
Keziah  said  little  concerning  the  topic  of  which  all 
the  village  was  talking,  and  John  Ellery  forebore  to 
mention  it.  The  housekeeper  was  as  faithful  as  ever 
in  the  performance  of  her  household  duties,  but  her 
smile  had  gone  and  she  was  worn  and  anxious.  The 
minister  longed  to  express  his  sympathy,  but  Keziah 
had  not  mentioned  Nat's  name  for  months,  not  since 
he,  Ellery,  gave  her  the  message  intrusted  to  him 
by  the  captain  before  sailing.  He  would  have  liked 
to  ask  about  Grace,  for  he  knew  Mrs.  Coffin  visited 
the  Hammond  home  occasionally,  but  this,  too,  he 
hesitated  to  do.  He  heard  from  others  that  the  girl 
was  bearing  the  suspense  bravely,  that  she  refused 
to  give  up  hope,  and  was  winning  the  respect  of  all 
the  thinking  class  in  Trumet  by  her  courage  and 
patience.  Even  the  most  bigoted  of  the  Regulars, 
Captain  Daniels  and  his  daughter  excepted  of  course, 
had  come  to  speak  highly  of  her.  "  She's  a 
spunky  girl,"  declared  Captain  Zeb,  with  emphasis. 
'  There's  nothing  of  the  milk-sop  and  cry-baby 
about  her.  Shes  fit  to  be  a  sailor's  wife,  and  I  only 
hope  Nat's  alive  to  come  back  and  marry  her.  He 
was  a  dum  good  feller,  too — savin'  your  presence, 

257 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Mr.  Ellery — and  if  he  was  forty  times  a  Come-Outer 
I'd  say  the  same  thing.  I'm  'fraid  he's  gone,  though, 
poor  chap.  As  good  a  seaman  as  he  was  would  have 
fetched  port  afore  this  if  he  was  atop  of  water. 
As  for  Gracie,  she's  a  brick,  and  a  lady,  every  inch  of 
her.  My  old  girl  went  down  t'other  day  to  call  on 
her  and  that's  the  fust  Come-Outer  she's  been  to  see 
sence  there  was  any.  Why  don't  you  go  see- her,  too, 
Mr.  Ellery?  'Twould  be  a  welcome  change  from 
Zeke  Bassett  and  his  tribe.  Go  ahead!  it  would  be 
the  Almighty's  own  work  and  the  society'd  stand  back 
of  you,  all  them  that's  wuth  considering  anyhow." 

This  was  surprising  advice  from  a  member  of 
the  Regular  and  was  indicative  of  the  changed  feel 
ing  in  the  community,  but  the  minister,  of  course, 
could  not  take  it.  He  had  plunged  headlong  into 
his  church  work,  hoping  that  it  and  time  would  dull 
the  pain  of  his  terrible  shock  and  disappointment. 
It  had  been  dulled  somewhat,  but  it  was  still  there, 
and  every  mention  of  her  name  revived  it. 

One  afternoon  Keziah  came  into  his  study,  where 
he  was  laboring  with  his  next  Sunday  sermon,  and 
sat  down  in  the  rocking-chair.  She  had  been  out 
and  still  wore  her  bonnet  and  shawl. 

"  John,"  she  said,  "  I  ask  your  pardon  for  dis- 
turbin'  you.  I  know  you're  busy." 

Ellery  laid  down  his  pen.  "  Never  too  busy  to 
talk  with  you,  Aunt  Keziah,"  he  observed.  "  What 
is  it?" 

"  I  wanted  to  ask  if  you  knew  Mrs.  Prince  was 
sick?" 

'No.  Is  she?  I'm  awfully  sorry.  Nothing 
serious,  I  hope?  " 

"  No,  I  guess  not.     Only  she's  got  a  cold  and  is 
258 


TRUMET   TALKS 

kind  of  under  the  weather.  I  thought  pVaps  you'd 
like  to  run  up  and  see  her.  She  thinks  the  world 
and  all  of  you,  'cause  you  was  so  good  when  she  was 
distressed  about  her  son.  Poor  old  thing !  she's  had 
a  hard  time  of  it." 

"  I  will  go.  I  ought  to  go,  of  course.  I'm  glad 
you  reminded  me  of  it." 

"  Yes.  I  told  her  you  hadn't  meant  to  neglect 
her,  but  you'd  been  busy  fussin'  with  the  fair  and 
the  like  of  that." 

"  That  was  all.  I'll  go  right  away.  Have  you 
been  there  to-day?" 

"  No.  I  just  heard  that  she  was  ailin'  from 
Didama  Rogers.  Didama  said  she  was  all  but  dyin', 
so  I  knew  she  prob'ly  had  a  little  cold,  or  somethin'. 
If  she  was  really  very  bad,  Di  would  have  had  her 
buried  by  this  time,  so's  to  be  sure  her  news  was 
ahead  of  anybody  else's.  I  ain't  been  up  there,  but 
I  met  her  t'other  mornin'." 

"Didama?" 

"No;  Mrs.  Prince.  She'd  come  down  to  see 
Grace." 

"  Oh." 

'  Yes.  The  old  lady's  been  awful  kind  and 
sympathizin'  since — since  this  new  trouble.  It  re 
minds  her  of  the  loss  of  her  own  boy,  I  presume 
likely,  and  so  she  feels  for  Grace.  John,  what  do 
they  say  around  town  about — about  him?" 

"  Captain  Hammond?  " 

"Yes." 

The  minister  hesitated.  Keziah  did  not  wait  for 
him  to  answer. 

"  I  see,"  she  said  slowly.     "  Do  they  all  feel  that 


way? 


259 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"Why,  if  you  mean  that  they've  all  given  up 
hope,  I  should  hardly  say  that.  Captain  Mayo  and 
Captain  Daniels  were  speaking  of  it  in  my  hearing 
the  other  day  and  they  agreed  that  there  was  still 
a  chance." 

"  A  pretty  slim  one,  though,  they  cal'lated,  didn't 
they?" 

"  Well,  they  were — were  doubtful,  of  course. 
There  was  the  possibility  that  he  had  been  wrecked 
somewhere  and  hadn't  been  picked  up.  They  cited 
several  such  cases.  The  South  Pacific  is  full  of 
islands  where  vessels  seldom  touch,  and  he  and  his 
crew  may  be  on  one  of  these." 

"  Yes.  They  might,  but  I'm  afraid  not.  Ah, 
hum !  " 

She  rose  and  was  turning  away.  Ellery  rose 
also  and  laid  his  hand  on  her  arm. 

"  Aunt  Keziah,"  he  said,  "  I'm  very  sorry.  I 
respected  Captain  Hammond,  in  spite  of — of — in 
spite  of  everything.  I've  tried  to  realize  that  he  was 
not  to  blame.  He  was  a  good  man  and  I  haven't 
forgotten  that  he  saved  my  life  that  morning  on  the 
flats.  And  I'm  so  sorry  for  you" 

She  did  not  look  at  him. 

"  John,"  she  answered,  with  a  sigh,  "  sometimes 
I  think  you'd  better  get  another  housekeeper." 

;<What?     Are  you  going  to  leave  me?     You?" 

"  Oh,  'twouldn't  be  because  I  wanted  to.  But  it 
seems  almost  as  if  there  was  a  kind  of  fate  hangin' 
over  me  and  that,"  she  smiled  faintly,  "  as  if  'twas 
sort  of  catchin',  as  you  might  say.  Everybody  I 
ever  cared  for  has  had  somethin'  happen  to  'em. 
My  brother  died;  my — the  man  I  married  went  to 
the  dogs;  then  you  and  Grace  had  to  be  miserable 

260 


and  I  had  to  help  make  you  so;  I  sent  Nat  away  and 
he  blamed  me  and— 

"  No,  no.  He  didn't  blame  you.  He  sent  you 
word  that  he  didn't." 

"  Yes,  but  he  did,  all  the  same.  He  must  have. 
I  should  if  I'd  been  in  his  place.  And  now  he's  dead, 
and  won't  ever  understand — on  this  earth,  anyhow. 
I  guess  I'd  better  clear  out  and  leave  you  afore  I 
spoil  your  life." 

"  Aunt  Keziah,  you're  my  anchor  to  windward, 
as  they  say  down  here.  If  I  lost  you,  goodness  knows 
where  I  should  drift.  Don't  you  ever  talk  of  leaving 
me  again." 

"  Thank  you,  John.  I'm  glad  you  want  me  to 
stay.  I  won't  leave  yet  awhile ;  never — unless  I  have 
to." 

"  Why  should  you  ever  have  to?  " 

"  Well,  I  don't  know.  Yes,  I  do  know,  too. 
John,  I  had  another  letter  t'other  day." 

"You  did?     From — from  that  man?" 
'  Yup,  from —         For  a  moment  it  seemed  as  if 
she  were  about  to  pronounce   her  husband's   name, 
something  she  had  never  done  in  his  presence;  but 
if  she  thought  of  it,  she  changed  her  mind. 

"  From  him,"  she  said.  "  He  wanted  money,  of 
course;  he  always  does.  But  that  wa'n't  the  worst. 
The  letter  was  from  England,  and  in  it  he  wrote  that 
he  was  gettin'  sick  of  knockin'  around  and  guessed 
he'd  be  for  comin'  to  the  States  pretty  soon  and 
huntin'  me  up.  Said  what  was  the  use  of  havin'  an 
able-bodied  wife  if  she  couldn't  give  her  husband 
a  home." 

"The  scoundrel!" 

'  Yes,  I  know  what  he  is,  maybe  full  as  well  as 
261 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

you  do.  That's  why  I  spoke  of  leavin'  you.  If 
that  man  comes  to  Trumet,  I'll  go,  sure  as  death." 

"  No,  no.  Aunt  Keziah,  you  must  free  yourself 
from  him.  No  power  on  earth  can  compel  you  to 
longer  support  such  a — 

"  None  on  earth,  no.  But  it's  my  punishment 
and  I've  got  to  put  up  with  it.  I  married  him  with 
my  eyes  wide  open,  done  it  to  spite  the — the  other, 
as  much  as  anything,  and  I  must  bear  the  burden. 
But  I  tell  you  this,  John:  if  he  comes  here,  to  this 
town,  where  I've  been  respected  and  considered  a 
decent  woman,  if  he  comes  here,  I  go — somewhere, 
fljrywhere  that'll  be  out  of  the  sight  of  them  that 
know  me.  And  wherever  I  go  he  shan't  be  with 
me.  That  I  won't  stand !  I'd  rather  die,  and  I  hope 
I  do.  Don't  talk  to  me  any  more  now — don't !  I 
can't  stand  it." 

She  hurried  out  of  the  room.  Later,  as  the  min 
ister  passed  through  the  dining  room  on  his  way  to 
the  door,  she  spoke  to  him  again. 

"  John,"  she  said,  "  I  didn't  say  what  I  meant 
to  when  I  broke  in  on  you  just  now.  I  meant  to  tell 
you  about  Grace.  I  knew  you'd  like  to  know  and 
wouldn't  ask.  She's  bearin'  up  well,  poor  girl.  She 
thought  the  world  of  Nat,  even  though  she  might 
not  have  loved  him  in  the  way  that— 

"What's  that?  What  are  you  saying,  Aunt 
Keziah?" 

"  I  mean — well,  I  mean  that  he'd  always  been 
like  an  own  brother  to  her  and  she  cared  a  lot  for 
him." 

"  But  you  said  she  didn't  love  him." 

"  Did  I?  That  was  a  slip  of  the  tongue,  maybe. 
But  she  bears  it  well  and  I  don't  think  she  gives  up 

262 


TRUMET    TALKS 

hope.  I  try  not  to,  for  her  sake,  and  I  try  not  to 
show  her  how  I  feel." 

She  sewed  vigorously  for  a  few  moments.  Then 
she  said: 

"  She's  goin'  away,  Gracie  is." 

"  Going  away?  " 

"  Yup.  She's  goin'  to  stay  with  a  relation  of  the 
Hammonds  over  in  Connecticut  for  a  spell.  I 
coaxed  her  into  it.  Stayin'  here  at  home  with  all  this 
suspense  and  with  Hannah  Poundberry's  tongue 
droppin'  lamentations  like  kernels  out  of  a  corn 
sheller,  is  enough  to  kill  a  healthy  batch  of  kittens 
with  nine  lives  apiece.  She  didn't  want  to  go;  felt 
that  she  must  stay  here  and  wait  for  news;  but  I 
told  her  we'd  get  news  to  her  as  soon  as  it  come,  and 
she's  goin'." 

Ellery  took  his  hat  from  the  peg  and  opened  the 
door.  His  foot  was  on  the  step  when  Keziah  spoke 
again. 

"  She — it  don't  mean  nothin',  John,  except  that 
she  ain't  so  hard-hearted  as  maybe,  you  might  think 
— she's  asked  me  about  you  'most  every  time  I've 
been  there.  She  told  me  to  take  good  care  of 
you." 

The  door  closed.  Keziah  put  down  her  sewing 
and  listened  as  the  minister's  step  sounded  on  the 
walk.  She  rose,  went  to  the  window  and  looked 
after  him.  She  was  wondering  if  she  had  made  a 
mistake  in  mentioning  Grace's  name.  She  had  meant 
to  cheer  him  with  the  thought  that  he  was  not 
entirely  forgotten,  that  he  was,  at  least,  pitied;  but 
perhaps  it  would  have  been  better  to  have  remained 
silent.  Her  gaze  shifted  and  she  looked  out  over 
the  bay,  blue  and  white  in  the  sun  and  wind.  When 

263 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

she  was  a  girl  the  sea  had  been  kind  to  her,  it  had 
brought  her  father  home  safe,  and  those  home 
comings  were  her  pleasantest  memories.  But  she 
now  hated  it.  It  was  cruel  and  cold  and  wicked. 
It  had  taken  the  man  she  loved  and  would  have  loved 
till  she  died,  even  though  he  could  never  have  been 
hers,  and  she  had  given  him  to  another;  it  had 
taken  him,  killed  him  cruelly,  perhaps.  And  now 
it  might  be  bringing  to  her  the  one  who  was  respon 
sible  for  all  her  sorrow,  the  one  she  could  not  think 
of  without  a  shudder.  She  clung  to  the  window  sash 
and  prayed  aloud. 

"Lord!  Lord!"  she  pleaded,  "don't  put  any 
more  on  me  now.  I  couldn't  stand  it!  I  couldn't!  " 

Ellery,  too,  was  thinking  deeply  as  he  walked  up 
the  main  road  on  his  way  to  Mrs.  Prince's.  Keziah's 
words  were  repeating  themselves  over  and  over  in  his 
brain.  She  had  asked  about  him.  She  had  not 
forgotten  him  altogether.  And  what  did  the  house 
keeper  mean  by  saying  that  she  had  not  loved  Cap 
tain  Hammond  in  the  way  that —  Not  that  it  could 
make  any  difference.  Nothing  could  give  him  back 
his  happiness.  But  what  did  it  mean? 

Mrs.  Prince  was  very  glad  to  see  him.  He  found 
her  in  the  big  armchair  with  the  quilted  back  and 
the  projecting  "  wings  "  at  each  side  of  her  head. 
She  was  wrapped  in  a  "  Rising  Sun  "  quilt  which 
was  a  patchwork  glory  of  red  and  crimson.  A  young 
girl,  a  neighbor,  who  was  apparently  acting  in  the 
dual  capacity  of  nurse  and  housekeeper,  admitted 
him  to  the  old  lady's  presence. 

"  Well,     well !  "      she     exclaimed      delightedly. 

'  Then  you  ain't  forgot  me  altogether.     I'm  awful 

glad  to  see  you.    You'll  excuse  me  for  not  gettin'  up; 

264 


TRUMET    TALKS 

my  back's  got  more  pains  in  it  than  there  is  bones, 
a  good  sight.  Dr.  Parker  says  it's  nothin'  serious, 
and  all  I  had  to  do  was  set  still  and  take  his  medicine. 
I  told  him  that  either  the  aches  or  the  medicine 
made  settin'  still  serious  enough,  and  when  your  only 
amusement  is  listenin'  to  Emeline  Berry — she's  the 
girl  that's  takin'  care  of  me — when  your  only  fun  is 
listenin'  to  Emeline  drop  your  best  dishes  in  the 
kitchen  sink,  it's  pretty  nigh  tragic.  There !  there ! 
don't  mind  an  old  woman,  Mr.  Ellery.  Set  down  and 
let's  talk.  It's  a  comfort  to  be  able  to  say  somethin' 
besides  '  Don't,  Emeline !  '  and  '  Be  sure  you  pick 
up  all  the  pieces !  ' 

Mrs.  Prince's  good  spirits  were  of  short  duration. 
Her  conversation  soon  shifted  to  the  loss  of  her  son 
and  she  wept,  using  the  corner  of  the  quilt  to  wipe 
away  her  tears.  "  Eddie  "  had  been  her  idol  and, 
as  she  said,  it  was  hard  to  believe  what  folks  kept 
tellin'  her,  that  it  was  God's  will,  and  therefore  all 
for  the  best. 

"  That's  so  easy  to  say,"  she  sobbed.  "  Maybe 
it  is  best  for  the  Lord,  but  how  about  me?  I  needed 
him  more  than  they  did  up  there,  or  I  think  I  did. 
O  Mr.  Ellery,  I  don't  mean  to  be  irreverent,  but 
why  was  it  all  for  the  best?  " 

Questions  like  this  are  hard  to  answer.  The 
young  minister  tried,  but  the  answers  were  unsatis 
factory,  even  to  him. 

"  And  there's  Nat  Hammond,"  continued  Mrs. 
Prince.  "  A  fine  man — no  better  anywhere,  even 
though  his  father  was  a  Come-Outer — just  goin'  to 
be  married  and  all,  now  they  say  he's  drowned — 
why?  Why  was  that  necessary?" 

Ellery  could  not  reply.  The  old  lady  did  not 
265 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

wait  for  him  to  do  so.  The  mention  of  Captain 
Nat's  name  reminded  her  of  other  things. 

"  Poor  Gracie !  "  she  said.  "  It's  turrible  hard 
on  her.  I  went  down  to  see  her  two  or  three  times 
afore  I  was  took  with  this  backache.  She's  an  awful 
nice  girl.  And  pretty  as  a  pink,  too.  Don't  you 
think  so?  Hey?  don't  you?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Yes.  I've  been  kind  of  expectin'  she  might 
get  up  to  see  me.  Hannah  Poundberry  told  the 
Berrys  that  she  said  she  was  comin'.  I  don't  care 
about  her  bein'  a  Come-Outer.  I  ain't  proud,  Mr. 
Ellery.  And  there's  Come-Outers  and  Cow^-Outers. 
Proud!  Lord  'a'  mercy!  what  has  an  old  woman, 
next  door  to  the  poorhouse,  got  to  be  proud  over? 
Yes,  she  told  Hannah  she  was  comin',  and  the  Berry 
folks  thought  it  might  be  to-day.  So  I've  been 
watchin'  for  her.  What!  you  ain't  agoin',  Mr. 
Ellery?" 

"  I  think  I  must,  Mrs.  Prince." 

"  Oh,  don't !  Do  stay  a  spell  longer.  Gracie 
might  come  and  I'd  like  for  you  to  meet  her.  She 
needs  sympathy  and  comfort  an  awful  lot,  and  there's 
no  tellin',  you  might  convert  her  to  bein'  a  Reg'lar. 
Oh,  yes,  you  might.  You've  got  the  most  per- 
suadin'  way,  everybody  says  so.  And  you  don't 
know  her  very  well,  do  you  ?  Land  sakes  alive  !  talk 
about  angels!  I  snum  if  she  ain't  comin'  up  the  road 
this  blessed  minute." 

John  Ellery  had  risen.  Now  he  seized  his  hat 
and  moved  hastily  toward  the  door.  Mrs.  Prince 
called  to  him  to  remain,  but  he  would  not.  How 
ever,  her  good-bys  delayed  him  for  a  minute,  and 
before  he  reached  the  yard  gate  Grace  was  opening  it. 

266 


TRUMET   TALKS 

They  were  face  to  face  for  the  first  time  since  they 
had  parted  in  the  grove,  so  many  months  before. 

She  was  thinner  and  paler,  he  saw  that.  And 
dressed  very  quietly  in  black.  She  looked  at  him, 
as  he  stood  before  her  in  the  path,  and  her  cheeks 
flushed  and  her  eyes  fell.  He  stepped  aside  and 
raised  his  hat. 

She  bowed  gravely  and  murmured  a  "  Good 
afternoon."  Then  she  passed  on  up  the  path  toward 
the  door.  He  watched  her  for  an  instant  and  then 
stepped  quickly  after  her.  The  black  gown  and  the 
tired  look  in  her  eyes  touched  him  to  the  heart.  He 
could  not  let  her  go  without  a  word. 

She  turned  at  the  sound  of  his  step  behind  her. 

"  Er — Miss  Van  Home,"  he  stammered,  "  I 
merely  wanted  to  tell  you  how  deeply  I — we  all  feel 
for  you  in  your  trouble.  I — I — I  am  so  sorry." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said  simply,  and  after  a 
moment's  hesitation. 

"  I  mean  it  sincerely.     I — I  did  not  know  Cap 
tain  Hammond  very  well,  but  I  respected  and  liked 
him  the  first  time  we  met.     I  shall  hope  that — that— 
it  is  not  so  serious  as  they  fear." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said  again.  "  We  are  all 
hoping." 

"  Yes.  I — I — "  It  was  dreadfully  hard  to  get 
words  together.  "  I  have  heard  so  much  of  the  cap 
tain  from 

"From  Aunt  Keziah?  Yes,  she  was  Nat's 
warmest  friend." 

"  I  know.      Er — Mrs.   Coffin  tells  me  you   are 
going  away.     I  hope  you  may  hear  good  news  and 
soon.     I  shall  think  of  you — of  him —     I  want  you 
to  understand  that  I  shall." 
19  267 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

The  door  opened  and  Emeline  Berry  appeared 
on  the  threshold. 

"  Come  right  in,  Grace,"  she  called.  "  Mrs. 
Prince  wants  you  to.  She's  ahollerin'  for  you  to 
hurry  up." 

"  Good-by,"  said  the  minister. 

"  Good-by.  Thank  you  again.  It  was  very  kind 
of  you  to  say  this." 

"  No,  no.     I  mean  it." 

"  I  know;  that  was  why  it  was  so  kind.  Good- 
by." 

She  held  out  her  hand  and  he  took  it.  He  knew 
that  his  was  trembling,  but  so,  too,  was  hers.  The 
hands  fell  apart.  Grace  entered  the  house  and  John 
Ellery  went  out  at  the  gate. 

That  night  Keziah,  in  the  sitting  room,  trying  to 
read,  but  finding  it  hard  to  keep  her  mind  on  the 
book,  heard  her  parson  pacing  back  and  forth  over 
the  straw-matted  floor  of  his  chamber.  She  looked 
at  the  clock;  it  was  nearly  twelve.  She  shut  the  book 
and  sighed.  Her  well-meant  words  of  consolation 
had  been  a  mistake,  after  all.  She  should  not  have 
spoken  Grace  Van  Home's  name. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

IN    WHICH    THE    MINISTER    BOARDS    THE    SAN    JOSE 

HEY,  Mr.  Ellery!" 
It   was    Captain   Zeb    Mayo    who    was 
calling.      The    captain    sat    in    his    antique 
chaise,  drawn  by  the  antique  white  horse,   and  was 
hailing  the   parsonage   through  a  speaking  trumpet 
formed  by  holding  both   his  big  hands   before   his 
mouth.     The  reins  he  had  tucked  between  the  edge 
of  the  dashboard  and  the  whip  socket.     If  he  had 
thrown  them  on  the  ground  he  would  still  have  been 
perfectly  safe,  with  that  horse. 

"  Mr.  Ellery,  ahoy ! "  roared  Captain  Zeb 
through  his  hands. 

The  window  of  Zoeth  Peters's  house,  next  door 
to  the  Regular  church,  was  thrown  up  and  Mrs. 
Peters's  head,  bound  with  a  blue-and-white  handker 
chief  in  lieu  of  a  sweeping  cap,  was  thrust  forth  into 
the  crisp  March  air. 

"What  is  it,  Cap'n  Mayo?"  screamed  Mrs. 
Peters.  "Hey?" 

"Hey?"  repeated  Captain  Zeb,  peering  round 
the  chaise  curtain.  "  Who's  that?  " 

"  It's  me.     Is  somebody  dead?  " 

"Who's  me?  Oh!  No,  Hettie,  nobody's  dead, 
though  I'm  likely  to  bust  a  blood  vessel  if  I  keep 
on  yellin'  much  longer.  Is  the  parson  to  home?" 

269 


"Hey?" 

"  Oh,  heavens  alive!  I  say  is—  Ha,  there  you 
be,  Mr.  Ellery.  Mornin',  Keziah." 

The  minister  and  Mrs.  Coffin,  the  former  with 
a  napkin  in  his  hand,  had  emerged  from  the  side  door 
of  the  parsonage  and  now  came  hurrying  down  to 
the  gate. 

"Land  of  Goshen !  "  exclaimed  the  captain, 
"  you  don't  mean  to  tell  me  you  ain't  done  breakfast 
yet,  and  it  after  seven  o'clock.  Why,  we're  thinkin' 
about  dinner  up  to  our  house." 

Keziah  answered.  "  Yes,"  she  said,  "  I  shouldn't 
wonder.  Your  wife  tells  me,  Zeb,  that  the  only  time 
you  ain't  thinkin'  about  dinner  is  when  you  think  of 
breakfast  or  supper.  We  ain't  so  hungry  here  that 
we  get  up  to  eat  in  the  middle  of  the  night.  What's 
the  matter?  Hettie  Peters  is  hollerin'  at  you;  did 
you  know  it?  " 

"  Did  I  know  it?  Tut!  tut!  tut!  I'd  known  it 
if  I  was  a  mile  away,  'less  I  was  paralyzed  in  my 
ears.  Let  her  holler;  'twill  do  her  good  and  keep 
her  in  practice  for  Come-Outer  meetin'.  Why,  Mr. 
Ellery,  I  tell  you :  Em'lous  Sparrow,  the  fish  peddler, 
stepped  up  to  our  house  a  few  minutes  ago.  He's 
just  come  down  from  the  shanties  over  on  the  shore 
by  the  light — where  the  wreck  was,  you  know — and 
he  says  there's  a  'morphrodite  brig  anchored  three 
or  four  mile  off  and  she's  flyin'  colors  ha'f  mast 
and  union  down.  They're  gettin'  a  boat's  crew  to 
gether  to  go  off  to  her  and  see  what's  the  row.  I'm 
goin'  to  drive  over  and  I  thought  maybe  you'd  like 
to  go  along.  I  told  the  old  lady — my  wife,  I  mean 
—that  I  thought  of  pickin'  you  up  and  she  said 
'twas  a  good  idee.  Said  my  likin'  to  cruise  with  a 

270 


MINISTER    BOARDS   THE    SAN   JOSE 

parson  in  my  old  age  was  either  a  sign  that  I  was 
hopeful  or  fearful,  she  didn't  know  which;  and  either 
way  it  ought  to  be  encouraged.  He,  he,  he !  What 
do  you  say,  Mr.  Ellery?  Want  to  go?  " 

The  minister  hesitated.  "  I'd  like  to,"  he  said. 
"  I'd  like  to  very  much.  But  I  ought  to  work  on  my 
sermon  this  morning." 

Keziah  cut  in  here.  "  Cat's  foot!  "  she  sniffed. 
"  Let  your  sermon  go  for  this  once,  do.  If  it  ain't 
long  enough  as  it  is,  you  can  begin  again  when  you've 
got  to  the  end  and  preach  it  over  again.  Didama 
Rogers  said,  last  circle  day,  that  she  could  set  still 
and  hear  you  preach  right  over  'n'  over.  I'd  give 
her  a  chance,  'specially  if  it  did  keep  her  still. 
Keepin'  Didama  still  is  good  Christian  work,  ain't 
it,  Zeb?" 

Captain  Mayo  slapped  his  knee.  "  He,  he,  he  !  " 
he  chuckled.  "  Cal'late  you're  right,  Keziah." 

"  Indeed,  I  am.  I  believe  it  would  be  Christian 
ity  and  I  know  'twould  be  work.  There !  there ! 
run  in  and  get  your  coat  and  hat,  Mr.  Ellery. 
I'll  step  across  and  ease  Hettie's  mind  and — and 
lungs." 

She  went  across  the  road  to  impart  the  news  of 
the  vessel  in  distress  to  the  curious  Mrs.  Peters.  A 
moment  later  the  minister,  having  donned  his  hat 
and  coat,  ran  down  the  walk  and  climbed  into  the 
chaise  beside  Captain  Zeb.  The  white  horse,  stimu 
lated  into  a  creaky  jog  trot  by  repeated  slappings 
of  the  reins  and  roars  to  "Get  under  way!"  and 
"  Cast  off !  "  moved  along  the  sandy  lane. 

During  the  drive  the  captain  and  his  passenger 
discussed  various  topics  of  local  interest,  among  them 
Captain  Nat  Hammond  and  the  manner  in  which 

271 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

he  might  have  lost  his  ship  and  his  life.  It  was  now 
taken  for  granted,  in  Trumet  and  elsewhere,  that  Nat 
was  dead  and  would  never  be  heard  from  again.  The 
owners  had  given  up,  so  Captain  Zeb  said,  and  went 
on  to  enumerate  the  various  accidents  which  might 
have  happened — typhoons,  waterspouts,  fires,  and 
even  attacks  by  Malay  pirates — though,  added  the 
captain,  "  Gen'rally  speakin',  I'd  ruther  not  bet  on 
any  pirate  gettin'  away  with  Nat  Hammond's  ship, 
if  the  skipper  was  alive  and  healthy.  Then  there's 
mutiny  and  fevers  and  collisions,  and  land  knows 
what  all.  And,  speakin'  of  trouble,  what  do  you 
cal'late  ails  that  craft  we're  goin'  to  look  at  now?  " 

They  found  a  group  on  the  beach  discussing 
that  very  question.  A  few  fishermen,  one  or  two 
lobstermen  and  wreckers,  and  the  lightkeeper  were 
gathered  on  the  knoll  by  the  lighthouse.  They  had 
a  spyglass,  and  a  good-sized  dory  was  ready  for 
launching. 

"Where  is  she,  Noah?"  asked  Captain  Zeb  of 
the  lightkeeper.  "  That  her  off  back  of  the  spar 
buoy?  Let  me  have  a  squint  through  that  glass;  my 
eyes  ain't  what  they  used  to  be,  when  I  could  see  a 
whale  spout  two  miles  t'other  side  of  the  sky  line 
and  tell  how  many  barrels  of  ile  he'd  try  out,  fust 
look.  Takes  practice  to  keep  your  eyesight  so's  you 
can  see  round  a  curve  like  that,"  he  added,  winking 
at  Ellery. 

"  She's  a  brigantine,  Zeb,"  observed  the  keeper, 
handing  up  the  spyglass.  "And  flyin'  the  British 
colors.  Look's  if  she  might  be  one  of  them  salt 
boats  from  Turk's  Islands.  But  what  she's  doin' 
out  there,  anchored,  with  canvas  lowered  and  showin' 
distress  signals  in  fair  weather  like  this,  is  more'n 

272 


MINISTER    BOARDS   THE    SAN   JOSE 

any  of  us  can  make  out.    She  wa'n't  there  last  evenin', 
though,  and  she  is  there  now." 

"  She  ain't  the  only  funny  thing  along  shore  this 
mornin',  nuther,"  announced  Theophilus  Black,  one 
of  the  fishermen.  "  Charlie  Burgess  just  come  down 
along  and  he  says  there's  a  ship's  longboat  hauled 
up  on  the  beach,  'bout  a  mile  'n  a  half  t'other  side  the 
mouth  of  the  herrin'  crick  yonder.  Oars  in  her  and 
all.  And  she  ain't  no  boat  that  b'longs  round  here, 
is  she,  Charlie?  " 

"  No,  Thoph,  she  ain't,"  was  the  reply.  "  Make 
anything  out  of  her,  cap'n?  " 

Captain  Zeb,  who  had  been  inspecting  the  an 
chored  vessel  through  the  spyglass,  lowered  the  lat 
ter  and  seemed  puzzled.  "  Not  much,"  he  answered. 
"  Blessed  if  she  don't  look  abandoned  to  me.  Can't 
see  a  sign  of  life  aboard  her." 

"  We  couldn't  neither,"  said  Thoph.  "  We  was 
just  cal'latin'  to  go  off  to  her  when  Charlie  come  and 
told  us  about  the  longboat.  I  guess  likely  we  can 
go  now;  it's  pretty  nigh  smooth  as  a  pond.  You'll 
take  an  oar,  won't  you,  Noah?  " 

"  I  can't  leave  the  light  very  well.  My  wife  went 
over  to  the  village  last  night.  You  and  Charlie  and 
Bill  go.  Want  to  go,  too,  Zeb  ?  " 

"  No,  I'll  stay  here,  I  guess.  The  old  lady  made 
me  promise  to  keep  my  feet  dry  afore  I  left  the 
house." 

'  You  want  to  go,  Mr.  Ellery?     Lots  of  room." 

The  minister  was  tempted.  The  sea  always  had  a 
fascination  for  him  and  the  mystery  of  the  strange 
ship  was  appealing. 

"  Sure  I  won't  be  in  the  way?  " 

"  No,    no !    'course    you    won't,"    said    Burgess. 
273 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Come  right  along.  You  set  in  the  bow,  if  you  don't 
mind  gettin'  sprinkled  once  in  a  while.  I'll  steer  and 
Thoph  and  Bill'll  row.  That'll  be  enough  for  one 
dory.  If  we  need  more,  we'll  signal.  Heave  ahead." 

The  surf,  though  low  for  that  season  of  the  year, 
looked  dangerous  to  Ellery,  but  his  companions 
launched  the  dory  with  the  ease  which  comes  of 
experience.  Burgess  took  the  steering  oar  and  Thoph 
and  "  Bill,"  the  latter  a  lobsterman  from  Wellmouth 
Neck,  bent  their  broad  backs  for  the  long  pull.  The 
statement  concerning  the  pondlike  smoothness  of  the 
sea  was  something  of  an  exaggeration.  The  dory 
climbed  wave  after  wave,  long  and  green  and  oily, 
at  the  top  of  each  she  poised,  tipped  and  slid  down 
the  slope.  The  minister,  curled  up  in  the  bow  on  a 
rather  uncomfortable  cushion  of  anchor  and  roding, 
caught  glimpses  of  the  receding  shore  over  the  crests 
behind.  One  minute  he  looked  down  into  the  face 
of  Burgess,  holding  the  steering  oar  in  place,  the  next 
the  stern  was  high  above  him  and  he  felt  that  he 
was  reclining  on  the  back  of  his  neck.  But  always 
the  shoulders  of  the  rowers  moved  steadily  in  the 
short,  deep  strokes  of  the  rough  water  oarsman,  and 
the  beach,  with  the  white  light  and  red-roofed  house 
of  the  keeper,  the  group  beside  it,  and  Captain  Zeb's 
horse  and  chaise,  grew  smaller  and  less  distinct. 

"  Humph!  "  grunted  Charlie. 

"What's  the  matter?  "  asked  Thoph. 

The  steersman,  who  was  staring  hard  in  the 
direction  they  were  going,  scowled. 

"  Humph !  "  he  grunted  again.  "  I  swan  to  man, 
fellers,  I  believe  she  is  abandoned !  " 

"  Rubbish !  "  panted  Bill,  twisting  his  neck  to 
look  over  his  shoulder.  " 'Course  she  ain't !  Who'd 

274 


MINISTER    BOARDS    THE    SAN    JOSE 

abandon  a  craft  such  weather's  this,  and  Province- 
town  harbor  only  three  hours'  run  or  so?  " 

"  When  it  comes  to  that,"  commented  Burgess, 
"  why  should  they  anchor  off  here,  'stead  of  takin' 
her  in  by  the  inlet?  If  there's  anybody  aboard  they 
ain't  showed  themselves  yet.  She  might  have  been 
leakin',  but  she  don't  look  it.  Sets  up  out  of  water 
pretty  well.  Well,  we'll  know  in  a  few  minutes. 
Hit  her  up,  boys!  " 

The  rowers  "  hit  her  up  "  and  the  dory  moved 
faster.  Then  Burgess,  putting  his  hand  to  his  mouth, 
hailed. 

"  Ship  ahoy  !  "  he  roared.     "  Ahoy !  " 

No  reply. 

"  Ahoy  the  brig!  "  bellowed  Burgess.  "  What's 
the  matter  aboard  there?  All  hands  asleep?" 

Still  no  answer.  Thoph  and  Bill  pulled  more 
slowly  now.  Burgess  nodded  to  them. 

"Stand  by!"  he  ordered.  "Easy!  Way 
enough  !  Let  her  run." 

The  dory  slackened  speed,  turned  in  obedience 
to  the  steering  oar,  and  slid  under  the  forequarter  of 
the  anchored  vessel.  Ellery,  looking  up,  saw  her 
name  in  battered  gilt  letters  above  his  head — the 
San  Jose. 

"  Stand  by,  Thoph !  "  shouted  Charlie.  "  S'pose 
you  can  jump  and  grab  her  forechains?  Hold  her 
steady,  Bill.  Now,  Thoph  !  That's  the  time  !  " 

Thoph  had  jumped,  seized  the  chains,  and  was 
scrambling  aboard.  A  moment  later  he  appeared  at 
the  rail  amidships,  a  rope  in  his  hand.  The  dory  was 
brought  alongside  and  made  fast;  then  one  after  the 
other  the  men  in  the  boat  climbed  to  the  brig's  deck. 

"  Ahoy !  "  yelled  Burgess.  "  All  hands  on  deck ! 
275 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

tumble  up,  you  lubbers !  Humph !  She  is  aban 
doned,  sure  and  sartin." 

"  Yup,"  assented  Bill.  "  Her  boats  are  gone. 
See?  Guess  that  explains  the  longboat  on  the  beach, 
Charlie." 

"  Cal'late  it  does;  but  it  don't  explain  why  they 
left  her.  She  ain't  leakin'  none  to  speak  of,  that's 
sure.  Rides's  light's  a  feather.  Christmas!  look  at 
them  decks;  dirty  hogs,  whoever  they  was." 

The  decks  were  dirty,  and  the  sails,  sloppily 
furled,  were  dirty  likewise.  The  brig,  as  she  rolled 
and  jerked  at  her  anchor  rope,  was  dirty  and  unkempt 
from  stem  to  stern.  To  Ellery's  mind  she  made  a 
lonesome  picture,  even  under  the  clear,  winter  sky 
and  bright  sunshine. 

Thoph  led  the  way  aft.  The  cabin  companion 
door  was  open  and  they  peered  down. 

"Phew!"  sniffed  'Burgess.  "She  ain't  no 
cologne  bottle,  is  she?  Well,  come  on  below  and 
let's  see  what'll  we  see." 

The  cabin  was  a  "  mess,"  as  Bill  expressed  it. 
The  floor  was  covered  with  scattered  heaps  of 
riff-raff,  oilskins,  coats,  empty  bottles,  and  papers. 
On  the  table  a  box  stood,  its  hinged  lid  thrown 
back. 

"  Medicine  chest,"  said  Burgess,  examining  it. 
"  And  rum  bottles  aplenty.  Somebody's  been  sick, 
I  shouldn't  wonder." 

The  minister  opened  the  door  of  one  of  the  little 
staterooms.  The  light  which  shone  through  the 
dirty  and  tightly  closed  "  bull's-eye  "  window  showed 
a  tumbled  bunk,  the  blankets  soiled  and  streaked. 
The  smell  was  stifling. 

"  Say,  fellers,"  whispered  Thoph,  "  I  don't  like 
276 


MINISTER    BOARDS   THE    SAN    JOSE 

this  much  myself.  I'm  for  gettin'  on  deck  where  the 
air's  better.  Somethin's  happened  aboard  this  craft, 
somethin'  serious." 

Charlie  and  Bill  nodded  an  emphatic  affirmative. 

"Hadn't  we  better  look  about  a  little  more?" 
asked  Ellery.  "  There's  another  stateroom  there." 

He  opened  the  door  of  it  as  he  spoke.  It  was, 
if  possible,  in  a  worse  condition  than  the  first.  And 
the  odor  was  even  more  overpowering. 

"  Skipper's  room,"  observed  Burgess,  peeping  in. 
"  And  that  bunk  ain't  been  slept  in  for  weeks.  See 
the  mildew  on  them  clothes.  Phew !  I'm  fair  sick 
to  my  stomach.  Come  out  of  this." 

On  deck,  in  the  sunlight,  they  held  another  con 
sultation. 

"  Queerest  business  ever  I  see,"  observed  Charlie. 
"  I  never- 

"  I  see  somethin'  like  it  once,"  interrupted  Bill. 
"  Down  in  the  Gulf  'twas.  I  was  on  the  old  Fish- 
hawk.  Eben  Salters's  dad  from  over  to  Bayport 
skippered  her.  We  picked  up  a  West  Injy  schooner, 
derelict,  abandoned  same  as  this  one,  but  not  an 
chored,  of  course.  Yeller  jack  was  the  trouble 
aboard  her  and—  Where  you  bound,  Thoph?  " 

"  Coin'  to  take  a  squint  at  the  fo'castle,"  replied 
Theophilus,  moving  forward.  The  minister  fol 
lowed  him. 

The  fo'castle  hatchway  was  black  and  grim. 
Ellery  knelt  and  peered  down.  Here  there  was  prac 
tically  no  light  at  all  and  the  air  was  fouler  than  that 
in  the  cabin. 

"See  anything,  Mr.  Ellery?"  asked  Thoph, 
looking  over  his  shoulder. 

"  No,  I  don't  see  anything.     But  I  thought— 
277 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

He  seemed  to  be  listening. 

"What  did  you  think?" 

"  Nothing.     I- 

"  Hold  on!  you  ain't  goin'  down  there,  be  you? 
I  wouldn't.  No  tellin'  what  you  might  find.  Well, 
all  right.  7  ain't  curious.  I'll  stay  up  here  and  you 
can  report." 

He  stepped  over  and  leaned  against  the  rail. 
Bill  came  across  the  deck  and  joined  him. 

"Where's  Charlie?"  asked  Thoph. 

"  Gone  back  to  the  cabin,"  was  the  answer. 
"  Thought  likely  he  might  find  some  of  her  papers 
or  somethin'  to  put  us  on  the  track.  I  told  him  to 
heave  ahead;  I  didn't  want  no  part  of  it.  Too  much 
like  that  yeller-jack  schooner  to  suit  me.  What's 
become  of  the  parson?  " 

Thoph  pointed  to  the  open  hatch. 

"  Down  yonder,  explorin'  the  fo'castle,"  he  re 
plied.  "He  can  have  the  job,  for  all  me.  Phew! 
Say,  Bill,  what  is  this  we've  struck,  anyhow?" 

Ellery  descended  the  almost  perpendicular  ladder 
gingerly,  holding  on  with  both  hands.  At  its  foot 
he  stopped  and  tried  to  accustom  his  eyes  to  the 
darkness. 

A  room  perhaps  ten  feet  long,  so  much  he  could 
make  out.  The  floor  strewn,  like  that  of  the  cabin, 
with  heaps  of  clothing  and  odds  and  ends.  More 
shapes  of  clothes  hanging  up  and  swaying  with  the 
roll  of  the  brig.  A  little  window  high  up  at  the  end, 
black  with  dirt.  And  cavities,  bunks  in  rows,  along 
the  walls.  A  horrible  hole. 

He  took  a  step  toward  the  center  of  the  room, 
bending  his  head  to  avoid  hitting  the  fo'castle  lantern. 
Then  in  one  of  the  bunks  something  stirred,  some- 

278 


MINISTER    BOARDS   THE    SAN   JOSE 

thing  alive.  He  started  violently,  controlled  himself 
with  an  effort,  and  stumbled  toward  the  sound. 

"  What  is  it?  "  he  whispered.  "  Who  is  it?  Is 
anyone  there?  " 

A  groan  answered  him.  Then  a  voice,  weak  and 
quavering,  said : 

"  Gimme  a  drink!  Gimme  a  drink!  Can't  none 
of  you  God- forsaken  devils  give  me  a  drink?  " 

He  stooped  over  the  bunk.  A  man  was  lying  in 
it,  crumpled  into  a  dreadful  heap.  He  stooped  lower, 
looked,  and  saw  the  man's  face. 

There  was  a  shout  from  the  deck,  or,  rather,  a 
yell.  Then  more  yells  and  the  sound  of  running 
feet. 

"  Mr.  Ellery !  "  screamed  Burgess,  at  the  hatch 
way.  "  Mr.  Ellery,  for  the  Almighty's  sake,  come 
up  here !  Come  out  of  that  this  minute.  Quick  !  " 

The  minister  knew  what  was  coming,  was  sure 
of  it  as  he  stepped  to  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  had 
known  it  the  instant  he  saw  that  face. 

"  Mr.  Ellery !  "  shrieked  Burgess.  "  Mr.  Ellery, 
are  you  there?  " 

"  Yes,  I'm  here,"  answered  the  minister,  slowly. 
He  was  fighting  with  all  his  might  to  keep  his  nerves 
under  control.  His  impulse  was  to  leap  up  those 
steps,  rush  across  that  deck,  spring  into  the  dory  and 
row,  anywhere  to  get  away  from  the  horror  of  that 
forecastle. 

"  Come  up  !  "  called  Burgess.  "  Hurry  !  It's 
the  smallpox!  The  darned  hooker's  rotten  with  it. 
For  God  sakes,  come  quick !  " 

He  ran  to  the  rail,  yelling  order  to  Bill  and 
Thoph,  who  were  frantically  busy  with  the  dory. 
Ellery  began  to  climb  the  ladder.  His  head  emerged 

279 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

into  the  clean,  sweet  air  blowing  across  the  deck.     He 
drew  a  breath  to  the  very  bottom  of  his  lungs. 

Then  from  behind  and  below  him  came  the  voice 
again. 

"Gimme  a  drink!  "  it  wailed.  "  Gimme  a  drink 
of  water.  Ain't  one  of  you  cussed  swabs  got  decency 
enough  to  fetch  me  a  drink?  I'm  dyin'  for  a  drink, 
I  tell  you.  I'm  dyin' !  " 

The  minister  stood  still,  his  feet  on  the  ladder. 
The  three  men  by  the  rail  were  working  like  mad, 
their  faces  livid  under  the  sunburn  and  their  hands 
trembling.  They  pushed  each  other  about  and  swore. 
They  were  not  cowards,  either.  Ellery  knew  them 
well  enough  to  know  that.  Burgess  had,  that  very 
winter,  pulled  a  skiff  through  broken  ice  in  the  face 
of  a  wicked  no'theaster  to  rescue  an  old  neighbor 
whose  dory  had  been  capsized  in  the  bay  while  he 
was  hauling  lobster  pots.  But  now  Burgess  was  as 
scared  as  the  rest. 

Thoph  and  Bill  sprang  over  the  rail  into  the  boat. 
Burgess  turned  and  beckoned  to  Ellery. 

"  Come  on  1  "  he  called.  "  What  are  you  waitin' 
for?" 

The  minister  remained  where  he  was. 

"  Are  you  sure—  "  he  faltered. 

"Sure!  Blast  it  all !  I  found  the  log.  It  ain't 
been  kept  for  a  fortni't,  but  there's  enough.  It's 
smallpox,  I  tell  you.  Two  men  died  of  it  three 
weeks  ago.  The  skipper  died  right  afterwards.  The 
mate —  No  wonder  them  that  was  left  run  away 
as  soon  as  they  sighted  land.  Come  on !  Do  you 
want  to  die,  too?  " 

From  the  poison  pit  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder  the 
man  in  the  bunk  called  once  more. 

280 


"Water!"  he  screeched.  "Water!  Are  you 
goin'  to  leave  me,  you  d — n  cowards?  " 

"For  Heaven  sakes !  "  cried  Burgess,  clutching 
the  rail,  "  what's  that?  " 

Ellery  answered  him.  "  It's  one  of  them,"  he 
said,  and  his  voice  sounded  odd  in  his  own  ears. 
"  It's  one  of  the  crew." 

"  One  of  the-      Down  there?    Has  he " 

"  Yes,  he  has." 

"Help!  help!"  screamed  the  voice  shrilly. 
"Are  you  goin'  to  leave  me  to  die  all  alone? 
He-elp !  " 

The  minister  turned.  "  Hush !  "  he  called,  in 
answer  to  the  voice,  "  hush !  I'll  bring  you  water  in 
a  minute.  Burgess,"  he  added,  "  you  and  the  rest 
go  ashore.  I  shall  stay." 

"You'll  stay?  You'll  stay?  With  that?  You're 
crazy  as  a  loon.  Don't  be  a  fool,  man !  Come  on  I 
We'll  send  the  doctor  and  somebody  else — some  one 
that's  had  it,  maybe,  or  ain't  afraid.  I  am  and  I'm 
goin'.  Don't  be  a  fool." 

Thoph,  from  the  dory,  shouted  to  know  what 
was  the  matter.  Ellery  climbed  the  ladder  to  the 
deck  and  walked  over  to  the  rail.  As  he  approached, 
Burgess  fell  back  a  few  feet. 

"  Thoph,"  said  the  minister,  addressing  the  pair 
in  the  dory,  "  there  is  a  sick  man  down  in  the  fore 
castle.  He  has  been  alone  there  for  hours,  I  suppose, 
certainly  since  his  shipmates  ran  away.  If  he  is  left 
longer  without  help,  he  will  surely  die.  Some  one 
must  stay  with  him.  You  and  the  rest  row  ashore 
and  get  the  doctor  and  whoever  else  you  can.  I'll 
stay  here  till  they  come." 

Thoph  and  his  companions  set  up  a  storm  of  pro- 
281 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

test.  It  was  foolish,  it  was  crazy,  the  man  would 
die  anyhow,  and  so  on.  They  begged  the  minister 
to  come  with  them.  But  he  was  firm. 

"  Don't  stop  to  argue,"  he  urged.  "  Hurry  and 
get  the  doctor." 

"  Come  on,  Charlie,"  ordered  Bill.  "  No  use 
talkin'  to  him,  he's  set.  Come  on !  I  won't  stay 
alongside  this  craft  another  minute  for  nobody.  If 
you  be  comin',  come." 

Burgess,  still  protesting,  clambered  over  the  rail. 
The  dory  swung  clear  of  the  brig.  The  rowers 
settled  themselves  for  the  stroke. 

"  Better  change  your  mind,  Mr.  Ellery,"  pleaded 
Charlie.  "  I  hate  to  leave  you  this  way.  It  seems 
mean,  but  I'm  a  married  man  with  children,  like  the 
rest  of  us  here,  and  I  can't  take  no  risks.  Better 
come,  too.  No?  Well,  we'll  send  help  quick  as 
the  Lord'll  let  us.  By  the  Almighty!  "  he  added, 
in  a  sudden  burst,  "  you've  got  more  spunk  than  I 
have — yes,  or  anybody  I  ever  come  across.  I'll  say 
that  for  you,  if  you  are  a  parson.  Give  way,  fel 
lers." 

The  oars  dipped,  bent,  and  the  dory  moved  off. 
The  sound  of  the  creaking  thole  pins  shot  a  chill 
through  Ellery's  veins.  His  knees  shook,  and  invol 
untarily  a  cry  for  them  to  come  back  rose  to  his 
lips.  But  he  choked  it  down  and  waved  his  hand  in 
farewell.  Then,  not  trusting  himself  to  look  longer 
at  the  receding  boat,  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  walked 
toward  the  forecastle. 

The  water  butts  stood  amidships,  not  far  from 
the  open  door  of  the  galley.  Entering  the  latter  he 
found  an  empty  saucepan.  This  he  filled  from  the 
cask,  and  then,  with  it  in  his  hand,  turned  toward 

282 


MINISTER    BOARDS   THE    SAN    JOSE 

the  black  hatchway.  Here  was  the  greatest  test  of 
his  courage.  To  descend  that  ladder,  approach  that 
bunk,  and  touch  the  terrible  creature  in  it,  these 
were  the  tasks  he  had  set  himself  to  do,  but  could 
he? 

Vaccination  in  those  days  was  by  no  means  the 
universal  custom  that  it  now  is.  And  smallpox,  even 
now,  is  a  disease  the  name  of  which  strikes  panic  to 
a  community.  The  minister  had  been  vaccinated 
when  he  was  a  child,  but  that  was — so  it  seemed  to 
him — a  very  long  time  ago.  And  that  forecastle 
was  so  saturated  with  the  plague  that  to  enter  it 
meant  almost  certain  infection.  He  had  stayed 
aboard  the  brig  because  the  pitiful  call  for  help  had 
made  leaving  a  cowardly  impossibility.  Now,  face 
to  face,  and  in  cold  blood,  with  the  alternative,  it 
seemed  neither  so  cowardly  or  impossible.  The  man 
would  die  anyhow,  so  Thoph  had  said;  was  there 
any  good  reason  why  he  should  risk  dying,  too,  and 
dying  in  that  way? 

He  thought  of  a  great  many  things  and  of  many 
people  as  he  stood  by  the  hatchway,  waiting;  among 
others,  he  thought  of  his  housekeeper,  Keziah  Coffin. 
And,  somehow,  the  thought  of  her,  of  her  pluck,  and 
her  self-sacrifice,  were  the  very  inspirations  he  needed. 
"  It's  the  duty  that's  been  laid  on  me,"  Keziah  had 
said,  "  and  it's  a  hard  one,  but  I  don't  run  away  from 
it."  He  began  to  descend  the  ladder. 

The  sick  man  was  raving  in  delirium  when  he 
reached  him,  but  the  sound  of  the  water  lapping 
the  sides  of  the  saucepan  brought  him  to  himself. 
He  seized  Ellery  by  the  arm  and  drank  and 
drank.  When  at  last  he  desisted,  the  pan  was  half 
empty. 

20  283 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

The  minister  laid  him  gently  back  in  the  bunk 
and  stepped  to  the  foot  of  the  ladder  for  breath. 
This  made  him  think  of  the  necessity  for  air  in  the 
place  and  he  remembered  the  little  window.  It  was 
tightly  closed  and  rusted  fast.  He  went  up  to  the 
deck,  found  a  marlin  spike,  and,  returning,  broke 
the  glass.  A  sharp,  cold  draught  swept  through  the 
forecastle,  stirring  the  garments  hanging  on  the 
nails. 

An  hour  later,  two  dories  bumped  against  the 
side  of  the  San  Jose.  Men,  talking  in  low  tones, 
climbed  over  the  rail.  Burgess  was  one  of  them; 
ashamed  of  his  panic,  he  had  returned  to  assist  the 
others  in  bringing  the  brigantine  into  a  safer  anchor 
age  by  the  inlet. 

Dr.  Parker,  very  grave  but  businesslike,  reached 
the  deck  among  the  first. 

"  Mr.  Ellery,"  he  shouted,  "  where  are  you?  " 

The  minister's  head  and  shoulders  appeared  at 
the  forecastle  companion.  "  Here  I  am,  doctor,"  he 
said.  "  Will  you  come  down?  " 

The  doctor  made  no  answer  in  words,  but  he 
hurried  briskly  across  the  deck.  One  man,  Ebenezer 
Capen,  an  old  fisherman  and  ex-whaler  from  East 
Trumet,  started  to  follow  him,  but  he  was  the  only 
one.  The  others  waited,  with  scared  faces,  by  the 
rail. 

"  Get  her  under  way  and  inshore  as  soon  as  you 
can,"  ordered  Dr.  Parker.  "  Ebenezer,  you  can 
help.  If  I  need  you  below,  I'll  call." 

The  minister  backed  down  the  ladder  and  the 
doctor  followed  him.  Parker  bent  over  the  bunk  for 
a  few  moments  in  silence. 

"  He's  pretty  bad,"  he  muttered.  "  Mighty  little 
284 


MINISTER    BOARDS    THE    SAN    JOSE 

chance.     Heavens,   what  a  den !     Who  broke  that 
window?  " 

"  I  did,"  replied  Ellery.  "  The  air  down  here 
was  dreadful." 

The  doctor  nodded  approvingly.  "  I  guess  so," 
he  said.  "  It's  bad  enough  now.  We've  got  to  get 
this  poor  fellow  out  of  here  as  soon  as  we  can  or  he'll 
die  before  to-morrow.  Mr.  Ellery,"  he  added 
sharply,  "  what  made  you  do  this?  Don't  you  realize 
the  risk  you've  run?  " 

"  Some  one  had  to  do  it.  You  are  running  the 
same  risk." 

u  Not  just  the  same,  and,  besides,  it's  my  busi 
ness.  Why  didn't  you  let  some  one  else,  some  one 
we  could  spare —  Humph!  Confound  it,  man! 
didn't  you  know  any  better?  Weren't  you  afraid?  " 

His  tone  rasped  Ellery's  shaken  nerves. 

"  Of  course  I  was,"  he  snapped  irritably.  "  I'm 
not  an  idiot." 

"  Humph!  Well,  all  right;  I  beg  your  pardon. 
But  you  oughtn't  to  have  done  it.  Now  you'll  have 
to  be  quarantined.  And  who  in  thunder  I  can  get 
to  stay  with  me  in  this  case  is  more  than  I  know. 
Just  say  smallpox  to  this  town  and  it  goes  to  pieces 
like  a  smashed  egg.  Old  Eb  Capen  will  help,  for  he's 
had  it,  but  it  needs  more  than  one." 

'  Where  are  you  going  to  take — him?  "  pointing 
to  the  moaning  occupant  of  the  bunk. 

'  To  one  of  the  empty  fish  shanties  on  the  beach. 
There  are  beds  there,  such  as  they  are,  and  the  place 
is  secluded.  We  can  burn  it  down  when  the  fuss  is 
over." 

'Then  why  can't  I  stay?  I  shall  have  to  be 
quarantined,  I  know  that.  Let  me  be  the  other  nurse. 

285 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Why  should  anyone  else  run  the  risk?     I  have  run 
it.     I'll  stay." 

Dr.  Parker  looked  at  him.  "Well!"  he  ex 
claimed.  "  Well !  I  must  say,  young  man,  that  you've 
got —  Humph!  All  right,  Mr.  Ellery;  I'm  much 
obliged." 


CHAPTER  XVII 

IN    WHICH    EBENEZER    CAPEN    IS    SURPRISED 

BEFORE  sunset  that  afternoon  the  San  Jose 
was  anchored  behind  the  point  by  the  inlet. 
The  fishing  boats  changed  moorings  and 
moved  farther  up,  for  not  a  single  one  of  their  owners 
would  trust  himself  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the 
stricken  brigantine.  As  soon  as  the  anchors  were 
dropped,  the  volunteer  crew  was  over  side  and  away, 
each  of  its  members  to  receive  a  scolding  from  his 
family  for  taking  such  a  risk  and  to  have  his  garments 
sulphur-smoked  or  buried.  Charlie  Burgess,  whose 
wife  was  something  of  a  Tartar,  observed  ruefully 
that  he  "  didn't  take  no  comfort  'round  home  nowa 
days;  between  the  smell  of  brimstone  and  the  jawin's 
'twas  the  hereafter  ahead  of  time." 

The  largest  of  the  beach  shanties,  one  which 
stood  by  itself  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  light, 
was  hurriedly  prepared  for  use  as  a  pesthouse  and 
the  sick  sailor  was  carried  there  on  an  improvised 
stretcher.  Dr.  Parker  and  Ellery  lifted  him  from 
his  berth  and,  assisted  by  old  Ebenezer  Capen,  got 
him  up  to  the  deck  and  lowered  him  into  the  dory. 
Ebenezer  rowed  the  trio  to  the  beach  and  the  rest 
of  the  journey  was  comparatively  easy. 

The  shanty  had  three  rooms,  one  of  which  was 
given  up  to  the  patient,  one  used  as  a  living  room, 

287 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

and,  in  the  third,  Capen  and  the  minister  were  to 
sleep.  Mattresses  were  procured,  kind-hearted  and 
sympathizing  townspeople  donated  cast-off  tables  and 
chairs,  and  the  building  was  made  as  comfortable  as 
it  could  be,  under  the  circumstances.  Sign  boards, 
warning  strangers  to  keep  away,  were  erected,  and 
in  addition  to  them,  the  Trumet  selectmen  ordered 
ropes  stretched  across  the  lane  on  both  sides  of  the 
shanty.  But  ropes  and  signs  were  superfluous. 
Trumet  in  general  was  in  a  blue  funk  and  had  no 
desire  to  approach  within  a  mile  of  the  locality.  Even 
the  driver  of  the  grocery  cart,  when  he  left  the  day's 
supply  of  provisions,  pushed  the  packages  under  the 
ropes,  yelled  a  hurried  "  Here  you  be  !  "  and,  whip 
ping  up  his  horse,  departed  at  a  rattling  gallop. 

The  village  sat  up  nights  to  discuss  the  affair 
and  every  day  brought  a  new  sensation.  The  sur 
vivors  of  the  San  Jose's  crew,  a  wretched,  panic- 
stricken  quartette  of  mulattos  and  Portuguese,  were 
apprehended  on  the  outskirts  of  Denboro,  the  town 
below  Trumet  on  the  bay  side,  and  were  promptly 
sequestered  and  fumigated,  pending  shipment  to  the 
hospital  at  Boston.  Their  story  was  short  but  grew- 
some.  The  brigantine  was  not  a  Turks  Islands 
boat,  but  a  coaster  from  Jamaica.  She  had  sailed 
with  a  small  cargo  for  Savannah.  Two  days  out  and 
the  smallpox  made  its  appearance  on  board.  The 
sufferer,  a  negro  foremast  hand,  died.  Then  another 
sailor  was  seized  and  also  died.  The  skipper,  who 
was  the  owner,  was  the  next  victim,  and  the  vessel 
was  in  a  state  of  demoralization  which  the  mate,  an 
Englishman  named  Bradford,  could  not  overcome. 
Then  followed  days  and  nights  of  calm  and  terrible 
heat,  of  pestilence  and  all  but  mutiny.  The  mate 

288 


EBENEZER    CAPEN    SURPRISED 

himself  died.  There  was  no  one  left  who  understood 
navigation.  At  last  came  a  southeast  gale  and  the 
San  Jose  drove  before  it.  Fair  weather  found  her 
abreast  the  Cape.  The  survivors  ran  her  in  after 
dark,  anchored,  and  reached  shore  in  the  longboat. 
The  sick  man  whom  they  had  left  in  the  forecastle 
was  a  new  hand  who  had  shipped  at  Kingston.  His 
name  was  Murphy,  they  believed.  They  had  left  him 
because  he  was  sure  to  die,  like  the  others,  and, 
besides,  they  knew  some  one  would  see  the  distress 
signals  and  investigate.  That  was  all,  yes.  Santa 
Maria!  was  it  not  enough? 

This  tale  was  a  delicious  tidbit  for  Didama  and 
the  "  daily  advertisers,"  but,  after  all,  it  was  a  mere 
side  dish  compared  to  Mr.  Ellery's  astonishing  be 
havior.  That  he,  the  minister  of  the  Regular  church, 
should  risk  his  life,  risk  dying  of  the  smallpox,  to 
help  a  stranger  and  a  common  sailor,  was  incompre 
hensible.  Didama,  at  least,  could  not  understand  it, 
and  said  so.  "  My  soul  and  body!  "  she  exclaimed, 
with  uplifted  hands.  "  I  wouldn't  go  nigh  my  own 
grandfather  if  he  had  the  smallpox,  let  alone  settin' 
up  with  a  strange  critter  that  I  didn't  know  from 
Adam's  cat.  And  a  minister  doin'  it !  He  ought  to 
consider  the  congregation,  if  he  done  nothin'  else. 
Ain't  we  more  important  than  a  common  water  rat 
that,  even  when  he's  dyin',  swears,  so  I  hear  tell,  like 
a  ship's  poll  parrot?  I  never  heard  of  such  foolish 
ness.  It  beats  me!  " 

It  "  beat  "  a  good  many  who,  like  the  Widow 
Rogers,  could  not  understand  self-sacrifice.  But 
there  were  more,  and  they  the  majority  of  Trumet's 
intelligent  people,  who  understood  and  appreciated. 
Dr.  Parker,  a  man  with  a  reputation  for  dangerously 

289 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

liberal  views  concerning  religious  matters  and  an  in 
frequent  attendant  at  church,  was  enthusiastic  and 
prodigal  of  praise. 

"  By  George !  "  vowed  the  doctor.  "  That's  my 
kind  of  Christianity.  That's  the  kind  of  parson  I 
can  tie  to.  I'm  for  John  Ellery  after  this,  first,  last, 
and  all  the  time.  And  if  he  don't  get  the  smallpox 
and  die,  and  if  he  does  live  to  preach  in  the  Regular 
church,  you'll  see  me  in  one  of  the  front  pews  every 
Sunday.  That's  what  I  think  of  him.  Everybody 
else  ran  away  and  I  don't  blame  'em  much.  But  he 
stayed.  Yes,  sir,  by  George !  he  stayed.  '  Somebody 
had  to  do  it,'  says  he.  I  take  off  my  hat  to  that 
young  fellow." 

Captain  Zeb  Mayo  went  about  cheering  for  his 
parson.  Mrs.  Mayo  cooked  delicacies  to  be  pushed 
under  the  ropes  for  the  minister's  consumption.  The 
parish  committee,  at  a  special  session,  voted  an  in 
crease  of  salary  and  ordered  a  weekly  service  of 
prayer  for  the  safe  delivery  of  their  young  leader 
from  danger.  Even  Captain  Elkanah  did  not  try  to 
oppose  the  general  opinion;  "  although  I  cannot  but 
feel,"  he  said,  "  that  Mr.  Ellery's  course  was  rash 
and  that  he  should  have  considered  us  and  our  in 
terest  in  his  welfare  before — 

"  Dum  it  all !  "  roared  Captain  Zeb,  jumping  to 
his  feet  and  interrupting,  "  he  didn't  consider  him 
self,  did  he?  and  ain't  he  as  important  to  himself  as 
you,  Elkanah  Daniels,  or  anybody  else  in  this  meet- 
in'  house?  Bah!  don't  let's  have  no  more  talk  like 
that  or  I'll  say  somethin'  that  won't  be  fit  to  put  in 
the  minutes." 

Even  at  Come-Outers'  meeting,  when  Ezekiel 
Bassett  hinted  at  a  "  just  punishment  fallin'  on  the 

290 


EBENEZER    CAPEN    SURPRISED 

head  of  the  leader  of  the  Pharisees,"  Thoph  Black 
rose  and  defended  Ellery. 

Keziah  Coffin  was,  perhaps,  the  one  person  most 
disturbed  by  her  parson's  heroism.  She  would  have 
gone  to  the  shanty  immediately  had  not  Dr.  Parker 
prevented.  Even  as  it  was,  she  did  go  as  far  as  the 
ropes,  but  there  she  was  warded  off  by  Ebenezer 
until  Ellery  came  running  out  and  bade  her  come  no 
nearer. 

"  But  you  shan't  stay  here,  Mr.  Ellery,"  vowed 
Keziah.  "  Or,  if  you  do,  I'll  stay,  too.  I  ain't  afraid 
of  smallpox." 

"  I  am,"  confessed  the  minister,   "  and   I'm  not 
going  to  let  anyone  I  care  for  expose  themselves  to  it 
unnecessarily.     If  you  try  to  come  in  here  I  shall  " 
he  smiled — "  well,  Capen  and  I  will  put  you  off  the 
premises  by  force.     There  !  " 

Keziah  smiled,  too,  in  spite  of  herself.  "  Maybe 
you'd  have  your  hands  full,"  she  said.  "  O  John, 
what  in  the  world  made  you  do  this  thing?  It's 
dreadful.  I  shan't  sleep  a  wink,  thinkin'  of  you.  I 
just  must  come  here  and  help." 

"  No,  you  mustn't.  You  can  come  as  far  as  the 
— the  dead  line  once  in  a  while,  if  Captain  Mayo  will 
drive  you  over,  but  that's  all.  I'm  all  right.  Don't 
worry  about  me.  I'm  feeling  tiptop  and  I'm  not 
going  to  be  sick.  Now  go  home  and  make  me  some 
of  that — some  of  those  puddings  of  yours.  We  can 
use  them  to  advantage,  can't  we,  Capen?" 

"Bet  yer!  "  replied  Ebenezer  with  enthusiasm. 
Keziah,  after  more  expostulation,  went  back  to  the 
parsonage,  where  the  puddings  were  made  and  sea 
soned  with  tears  and  fervent  prayers.  She  wrote  to 
Grace  and  told  her  the  news  of  the  San  Jose,  but  she 

291 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

said  nothing  of  the  minister's  part  in  it.  "  Poor 
thing!"  sighed  Keziah,  "she's  bearin'  enough  al 
ready.  Her  back  ain't  as  strong  as  mine,  maybe, 
and  mine's  most  crackin'.  Well,  let  it  crack  for 
good  and  all;  I  don't  know  but  that's  the  easiest  way 
out." 

The  sick  sailor  grew  no  better.  Days  and  nights 
passed  and  he  raved  and  moaned  or  lay  in  a  stupor. 
Ebenezer  acted  as  day  nurse  while  Ellery  slept,  and, 
at  night,  the  minister,  being  younger,  went  on  watch. 
The  doctor  came  frequently,  but  said  there  was  no 
hope.  A  question  of  time  only,  and  a  short  time,  he 
said. 

Capen  occupied  his  mind  with  speculations  con 
cerning  the  patient. 

"  Do  you  know,  parson,"  he  said,  "  seem's  if  I'd 
seen  the  feller  somewheres  afore.  'Course  I  never 
have,  but  when  I  used  to  go  whalin'  v'yages  I  cruised 
from  one  end  of  creation  to  t'other,  pretty  nigh,  and 
I  might  have  met  him.  However,  his  own  folks 
wouldn't  know  him  now,  would  they?  so  I  cal'late 
I'm  just  gettin'  foolish  In  my  old  age.  Said  his 
name's  Murphy,  them  ha'f-breeds  did,  didn't  they? 
I  know  better'n  that." 

"How  do  you  know?"  asked  Ellery,  idly  lis 
tening. 

'  'Cause  when  he's  floppin'  round  on  the  bed,  out 
of  his  head,  he  sings  out  all  kinds  of  stuff.  A  good 
deal  of  it's  plain  cussin',  but  there's  times  when  he 
talks  respectable  and  once  I  heard  him  say  '  darn  ' 
and  another  time  '  I  cal'late.'  Now  no  Irishman 
says  that.  That's  Yankee,  that  is." 

'  Well,  he  ought  to  know  his  own  name." 

"  Prob'ly  he  does — or  used  to — but  'most  likely 
292 


EBENEZER    CAPEN    SURPRISED 

he  don't  want  nobody  else  to  know  it.  That's  why 
he  said  'twas  Murphy  and,  bein'  as  he  did  say  it,  I 
know  'tain't  it.  See  my  argument,  don't  you,  Mr. 
Ellery?" 

"  Yes,  I  guess  so." 

"  Um — hm !  Why,  land  sakes,  names  don't 
mean  nothin'  with  seafarin'  men.  I've  seen  the  time 
when  I  had  more  names —  Humph !  Looks  kind 
of  squally  off  to  the  east'ard,  don't  it?  " 

That  night  the  sick  man  was  much  worse.  His 
ravings  were  incessant.  The  minister,  sitting  in  his 
chair  in  the  living  room,  by  the  cook  stove,  could  hear 
the  steady  stream  of  shouts,  oaths,  and  muttered 
fragments  of  dialogue  with  imaginary  persons.  Sym 
pathy  for  the  sufferer  he  felt,  of  course,  and  yet  he, 
as  well  as  Dr.  Parker  and  old  Capen,  had  heard 
enough  to  realize  that  the  world  would  be  none  the 
worse  for  losing  this  particular  specimen  of  human 
ity.  The  fellow  had  undoubtedly  lived  a  hard  life, 
among  the  roughest  of  companions  afloat  and  ashore. 
Even  Ebenezer,  who  by  his  own  confession,  was  far 
from  being  a  saint,  exclaimed  disgustedly  at  the  close 
of  a  day's  watching  by  the  sick  bed :  "  Phew  !  I  feel's 
if  I'd  been  visiting  state's  prison.  Let  me  set  out 
doors  a  spell  and  listen  to  the  surf.  It's  clean,  any 
how,  and  that  critter's  talk  makes  me  want  to  give 
my  brains  a  bath." 

The  wooden  clock,  loaned  by  Mrs.  Parker,  the 
doctor's  wife,  ticked  steadily,  although  a  half  hour 
slow.  Ellery,  glancing  at  it  to  see  if  the  time  had 
come  for  giving  medicine,  suddenly  noticed  how  loud 
its  ticking  sounded.  Wondering  at  this,  he  was 
aware  there  was  no  other  sound  in  the  house.  He 
rose  and  looked  in  at  the  door  of  the  adjoining  room. 

293 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

The  patient  had  ceased  to  rave  and  was  lying  quiet 
on  the  bed. 

The  minister  tiptoed  over  to  look  at  him.  And, 
as  he  did  so,  the  man  opened  his  eyes. 

"  Halloo!  "  he  said  faintly.     "  Who  are  you?  " 

Ellery,  startled,  made  no  answer. 

"Who  are  you?"  demanded  the  man  again. 
Then,  with  an  oath,  he  repeated  the  question,  add 
ing:  "What  place  is  this?  This  ain't  the  fo'castle. 
Where  am  I?" 

'  You're  ashore.  You've  been  sick.  Don't  try 
to  move." 

"Sick?  Humph!  Sick?  'Course  I  been  sick. 
Don't  I  know  it?  The  d — n  cowards  run  off  and  left 
me;  blast  their  eyes!  I'll  fix  'em  for  it  one  of  these 
days,  you  hear 

"Sshh!  " 

"  Hush  up  yourself.     Where  am  I?  " 

'  You're  ashore.     On  Cape  Cod.     At  Trumet." 

"Trumet!     Trumet!" 

He  was  struggling  to  raise  himself  on  his  el 
bow.  Ellery  was  obliged  to  use  force  to  hold  him 
down. 

"Hush!  hush!"  pleaded  the  minister,  "you 
mustn't  try  to— 

"Trumet!  I  ain't.  You're  lyin'.  Trumet! 
Good  God!  Who  brought  me  here?  Did  she — 
Is  she " 

He  struggled  again.  Then  his  strength  and  his 
reason  left  him  simultaneously  and  the  delirium  re 
turned.  He  began  to  shout  a  name,  a  name  that 
caused  Ellery  to  stand  upright  and  step  back  from 
the  bed,  scarcely  believing  his  ears. 

All  the  rest  of  that  night  the  man  on  the  bed 
294 


EBENEZER    CAPEN    SURPRISED 

raved  and  muttered,  but  of  people  and  places  and 
happenings  which  he  had  not  mentioned  before. 
And  the  minister,  listening  intently  to  every  word, 
caught  himself  wondering  if  he  also  was  not  losing 
his  mind. 

When  the  morning  came,  Ebenezer  Capen  was 
awakened  by  a  shake  to  find  John  Ellery  standing 
over  him. 

"  Capen,"  whispered  the  minister,  "  Capen,  get 
up.  I  must  talk  with  you." 

Ebenezer  was  indignant. 

"Judas  priest!  "  he  exclaimed;  "why  don't  you 
scare  a  feller  to  death,  comin'  and  yankin'  him  out  of 
bed  by  the  back  hair?"  Then,  being  more  wide 
awake,  he  added:  "  What's  the  row?  Worse,  is  he? 
He  ain't- 

"  No.  But  I've  got  to  talk  with  you.  You  used 
to  be  a  whaler,  I  know.  Were  you  acquainted  in 
New  Bedford?" 

"  Sartin.  Was  a  time  when  I  could  have  located 
every  stick  in  it,  pretty  nigh,  by  the  smell,  if  you'd 
set  me  down  side  of  'em  blindfold." 

"  Did  you  ever  know  anyone  named —  He  fin 
ished  the  sentence. 

"  Sure  and  sartin,  I  did.    Why  ?  " 

"  Did  you  know  him  well?  " 

''  Well's  I  wanted  to.  Pretty  decent  feller  one 
time,  but  a  fast  goer,  and  went  downhill  like  a  young 
one's  sled,  when  he  got  started.  His  folks  had 
money,  that  was  the  trouble  with  him.  Why,  'course 
I  knew  him  !  He  married— 

"  I  know.     Now,  listen." 

Ellery  went  on  talking  rapidly  and  with  great 
earnestness.  Ebenezer  listened,  at  first  silently,  then 

295 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

breaking  in  with  ejaculations  and  grunts  of  astonish 
ment.     He  sat  up  on  the  edge  of  the  bed. 

"Rubbish!"  he  cried  at  last.  "Why,  'tain't 
possible!  The  feller's  dead  as  Methusalem's  grand- 
marm.  I  remember  how  it  happened  and— 

"  It  wasn't  true.  That  much  I  know.  I  know,  I 
tell  you." 

He  went  on  to  explain  why  he  knew.  Capen's 
astonishment  grew. 

"Judas  priest!"  he  exclaimed  again.  'That 
would  explain  why  I  thought  I'd  seen—  There! 
heave  ahead.  I've  got  to  see.  But  it's  a  mistake.  I 
don't  believe  it." 

The  pair  entered  the  sick  room.  The  sailor  lay 
in  a  stupor.  His  breathing  was  rapid,  but  faint. 
Capen  bent  over  him  and  gently  moved  the  bandage 
on  his  face.  For  a  full  minute  he  gazed  steadily. 
Then  he  stood  erect,  drew  a  big  red  hand  across 
his  forehead,  and  moved  slowly  back  to  the  living 
room. 

"Well?"  asked  Ellery  eagerly. 

Ebenezer  sat  down  in  the  rocker.  "  Judas 
priest!  "  he  said  for  the  third  time.  "  Don't  talk  to 
me!  When  it  comes  my  time  they'll  have  to  prove 
I'm  dead.  I  won't  believe  it  till  they  do.  Ju-das 
priest!  " 

'  Then  you  recognize  him?  " 

The  old  man  nodded  solemnly. 
'  Yup,"  he  said,  "  it's  him.     Mr.  Ellery,  what 
are  you  goin'  to  do  about  it?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  don't  know.  I  must  go  some 
where  by  myself  and  think.  I  don't  know  what  to 
do." 

The  minister  declined  to  wait  for  breakfast.     He 
296 


EBENEZER    CAPEN    SURPRISED 

said  he  was  not  hungry.  Leaving  Ebenezer  to  put 
on  the  coffeepot  and  take  up  his  duties  as  day  nurse, 
Ellery  walked  off  along  the  beach.  The  "  dead 
line  "  prevented  his  going  very  far,  but  he  sat  down 
in  the  lee  of  a  high  dune  and  thought  until  his  head 
ached.  What  should  he  do?  What  was  best  for 
him  to  do? 

He  heard  the  rattle  of  the  doctor's  chaise  and 
the  voices  of  Ebenezer  and  Parker  in  conversation. 
He  did  not  move,  but  remained  where  he  was,  think 
ing,  thinking.  By  and  by  he  heard  Capen  calling  his 
name. 

"Mr.  Ellery!"  shouted  Ebenezer.  "Mr.  El 
lery,  where  be  you  ?  " 

"  Here!  "  replied  the  minister. 

The  old  man  came  scrambling  over  the  sand. 
He  was  panting  and  much  excited. 

"  Mr.  Ellery!  "  he  cried,  "  Mr.  Ellery!  it's  set 
tled  for  us — one  part  of  it,  anyhow.  He's  slipped 
his  cable." 

"  What?  "    The  minister  sprang  up. 

"  Yup.  He  must  have  died  just  a  little  while 
after  you  left  and  after  I  gave  him  his  medicine.  I 
thought  he  looked  kind  of  queer  then.  And  when 
the  doctor  came  we  went  in  together  and  he  was 
dead.  Yes,  sir,  dead." 

"Dead!" 

"  Um — hm.  No  doubt  of  it;  it's  for  good  this 
time.  Mr.  Ellery,  what  shall  we  do?  Shall  I  tell 
Dr.  Parker?" 

Ellery  considered  for  a  moment.  "  No,"  he  said 
slowly.  "  No,  Capen,  don't  tell  anyone.  I  can't  see 
why  they  need  ever  know  that  he  hasn't  been  dead 
for  years,  as  they  supposed.  Promise  me  to  keep  it  a 

297 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

secret.      I'll    tell  —  her  —  myself,    later    on.      Now 
promise  me;  I  trust  you." 

"  Land  sakes,  yes!  I'll  promise,  if  you  want  me 
to.  I'm  a  widower  man,  so  there'll  be  nobody  to 
coax  it  out  of  me.  I  guess  you're  right,  cal'late  you 
be.  What  folks  don't  know  they  can't  lie  about,  can 
they?  and  that's  good  for  your  business — meanin' 
nothin'  disreverent.  I'll  promise,  Mr.  Ellery;  I'll 
swear  to  it.  Now  come  on  back  to  the  shanty.  The 
doctor  wants  you." 

The  next  day  the  body  of  "  Murphy,"  foremast 
hand  on  the  San  Jose,  was  buried  in  the  corner  of  the 
Regular  graveyard,  near  those  who  were  drowned  in 
the  wreck  of  that  winter.  There  was  no  funeral,  of 
course.  The  minister  said  a  prayer  at  the  shanty, 
and  that  was  all.  Ebenezer  drove  the  wagon  which 
was  used  as  hearse  for  the  occasion,  and  filled  in  the 
grave  himself.  So  great  was  the  fear  of  the  terrible 
smallpox  that  the  sexton  would  not  perform  even 
that  service  for  its  victim. 

Capen  remained  at  the  shanty  another  week. 
Then,  as  the  minister  showed  no  symptoms  of  having 
contracted  the  disease  and  insisted  that  he  needed  no 
companion,  Ebenezer  departed  to  take  up  his  fishing 
once  more.  The  old  man  was  provided  with  a  new 
suit  of  clothes,  those  he  had  worn  being  burned,  and 
having  been,  to  his  huge  disgust,  fumigated  until,  as 
he  said,  he  couldn't  smell  himself  without  thinking  of 
a  match  box,  went  away.  The  room  which  the  dead 
sailor  had  occupied  was  emptied  and  sealed  tight. 
The  San  Jose  was  to  stay  at  her  anchorage  a  while 
longer.  Then,  when  all  danger  was  past,  she  was  to 
be  towed  to  Boston  and  sold  at  auction  for  the  bene 
fit  of  the  heirs  of  her  dead  skipper  and  owner. 

298 


EBENEZER    CAPEN    SURPRISED 

Ellery  himself  was  most  urgent  in  the  decision 
that  he  should  not  go  back  to  the  parsonage  and  his 
church  just  yet.  Better  to  wait  until  he  was  sure,  he 
said,  and  Dr.  Parker  agreed.  "  I'd  be  willing  to  bet 
that  you  are  all  right,"  declared  the  latter,  "  but  I 
know  Trumet,  and  if  I  should  let  you  go  and  you  did 
develop  even  the  tail  end  of  a  case  of  varioloid— 
well,  'twould  be  the  everlasting  climax  for  you  and 
me  in  this  county." 

Staying  alone  was  not  unpleasant,  in  a  way.  The 
"  dead  line  "  still  remained,  of  course,  and  callers 
did  not  attempt  to  pass  it,  but  they  came  more  fre 
quently  and  held  lengthy  conversations  at  a  respect 
ful  distance.  Ellery  did  his  own  cooking,  what  lit 
tle  there  was  to  do,  but  so  many  good  things  were 
pushed  under  the  ropes  that  he  was  in  a  fair  way  to 
develop  weight  and  indigestion.  Captain  Zeb  Mayo 
drove  down  at  least  twice  a  week  and  usually  brought 
Mrs.  Coffin  with  him.  From  them  and  from  the 
doctor  the  prisoner  learned  the  village  news.  Once 
Captain  Elkanah  and  Annabel  came,  and  the  young 
lady's  gushing  praise  of  the  minister's  "  heroism  " 
made  its  recipient  almost  sorry  he  had  ever  heard  of 
the  San  Jose. 

Dr.  Parker  told  him  of  Grace  Van  Home's  re 
turn  to  the  village.  She  had  come  back,  so  the  doc 
tor  said,  the  day  before,  and  was  to  live  at  the  tavern 
for  a  while,  at  least.  Yes,  he  guessed  even  she  had 
given  up  hope  of  Captain  Nat  now. 

"  And  say,"  went  on  Parker,  "  how  are  you  feel- 
ing?" 

"  Pretty  well,  thank  you,"  replied  the  minister. 
"  I  seem  to  be  rather  tired  and  good  for  nothing. 
More  so  than  I  was  during  the  worst  of  it." 
21  299 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  No  wonder.  A  chap  can't  go  through  what 
you  did  and  not  feel  some  reaction.  I  expected  that. 
Don't  get  cold,  that's  all.  But  what  I  want  to  know 
is  whether  you  think  I  could  leave  you  for  a  couple  of 
days?  The  Ostable  County  Medical  Society  meets  at 
Hyannis  to-morrow  and  I  had  promised  myself  to 
take  it  in  this  year.  But  I  don't  want  to  leave  you, 
if  you  need  me." 

Ellery  insisted  that  he  did  not  need  anyone,  was 
getting  along  finely,  and  would  not  hear  of  his 
friend's  missing  the  medical  society's  meeting.  So 
the  physician  went. 

"  Good-by,"  he  called  as  he  drove  off.  "  I  guess 
your  term  is  pretty  nearly  over.  I  shall  let  you  out 
of  jail  inside  of  four  or  five  days,  if  you  behave  your 
self." 

This  should  have  been  cheering  news,  but,  some 
how,  John  Ellery  did  not  feel  cheerful  that  afternoon. 
The  tired  feeling  he  had  spoken  of  so  lightly  was 
worse  than  he  had  described  it,  and  he  was  despond 
ent,  for  no  particular  reason.  That  night  he  slept 
miserably  and  awoke  with  a  chill  to  find  a  cold,  pour 
ing  rain  beating  against  the  windows  of  the  shanty. 

He  could  not  eat  and  he  could  not  keep  warm, 
even  with  the  cook-stove  top  red  hot  and  a  blanket 
over  his  shoulders.  By  noon  the  chill  had  gone  and 
he  was  blazing  with  fever.  Still  the  rain  and  the 
wind,  and  no  visitors  at  the  ropes,  not  even  the  light- 
keeper. 

He  lay  down  on  his  bed  and  tried  to  sleep,  but 
though  he  dozed  a  bit,  woke  always  with  a  start  and 
either  a  chill  or  fever  fit.  His  head  began  to  ache 
violently.  And  then,  in  the  lonesomeness  and  mis 
ery,  fear  began  to  take  hold  of  him. 

300 


EBENEZER    CAPEN    SURPRISED 

He  remembered  the  symptoms  the  doctor  had 
warned  him  against,  headache,  fever,  and  all  the  rest. 
He  felt  his  wrists  and  arms  and  began  to  imagine 
that  beneath  the  skin  were  the  little  bunches,  like 
small  shot,  that  were  the  certain  indications.  Then 
he  remembered  how  that  other  man  had  looked,  how 
he  had  died.  Was  he  to  look  that  way  and  die 
like  that?  And  he  was  all  alone,  they  had  left  him 
alone. 

Night  came.  The  rain  had  ceased  and  stars  were 
shining  clear.  Inside  the  shanty  the  minister  tossed 
on  the  bed,  or  staggered  back  and  forth  about  the 
two  rooms.  He  wondered  what  the  time  might  be; 
then  he  did  not  care.  He  was  alone.  The  smallpox 
had  him  in  its  grip.  He  was  alone  and  he  was  going 
to  die.  Why  didn't  some  one  come?  Where  was 
Mrs.  Coffin?  And  Grace?  She  was  somewhere 
near  him — Parker  had  said  so — and  he  must  see  her 
before  he  died.  He  called  her  name  over  and  over 
again. 

The  wind  felt  cold  on  his  forehead.  He  stum 
bled  amidst  the  beach  grass.  What  was  this  thing 
across  his  path?  A  rope,  apparently,  but  why  should 
there  be  ropes  in  that  house?  There  had  never  been 
any  before.  He  climbed  over  it  and  it  was  a  climb 
of  hundreds  of  feet  and  the  height  made  him  giddy. 
That  was  a  house,  another  house,  not  the  one  he  had 
been  living  in.  And  there  were  lights  all  about. 
Perhaps  one  of  them  was  the  light  at  the  parsonage. 
And  a  big  bell  was  booming.  That  was  his  church 
bell  and  he  would  be  late  for  the  meeting. 

Some  one  was  speaking  to  him.  He  knew  the 
voice.  He  had  known  it  always  and  would  know  it 
forever.  It  was  the  voice  he  wanted  to  hear. 

301 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  Grace !  "  he  called.     "  Grace !     I  want  you.     Don't 
go !     Don't  go  !     Grace  !  oh,  my  dear  I  don't  go  !  " 

Then  the  voice  had  gone.  No,  it  had  not 
gone.  It  was  still  there  and  he  heard  it  speaking 
to  him,  begging  him  to  listen,  pleading  with  him 
to  go  somewhere,  go  back,  back  to  something  or 
other.  And  there  was  an  arm  about  his  waist  and 
some  one  was  leading  him,  helping  him.  He  broke 
down  and  cried  childishly  and  some  one  cried  with 
him. 

Early  the  next  morning,  just  as  day  was  break 
ing,  a  buggy,  the  horse  which  drew  it  galloping, 
rocked  and  bumped  down  the  lighthouse  lane.  Dr. 
Parker,  his  brows  drawn  together  and  his  Hps  set 
with  anxiety,  was  driving.  He  had  been  roused  from 
sleep  in  the  hotel  at  Hyannis  by  a  boy  with  a  tele 
gram.  "  Come  quick,"  it  read.  "  Mr.  Ellery  sick." 
The  sender  was  Noah  Ellis,  the  lightkeeper.  The 
doctor  had  hired  a  fast  horse,  ridden  at  top  speed  to 
Bayport,  gotten  a  fresh  horse  there  and  hurried  on. 
He  stopped  at  his  own  house  but  a  moment,  merely 
to  rouse  his  wife  and  ask  her  if  there  was  any  fresh 
news.  But  she  had  not  even  heard  of  the  minister's 
seizure. 

"My  soul,  Will!"  she  cried,  "you  don't  think 
it's  the  smallpox,  do  you?  " 

"  Lord  knows !  I'm  afraid  so,"  groaned  her  hus 
band.  "  What  made  me  leave  him?  I  ought  to  have 
known  better.  If  that  boy  dies,  I'll  never  draw  an 
other  easy  breath." 

He  rushed  out,  sprang  into  the  buggy,  and  drove 
on.  At  the  ropes,  early  as  it  was,  he  found  a  small 
group  waiting  and  gazing  at  the  shanty.  The  light- 

302 


EBENEZER    CAPEN    SURPRISED 

keeper  was  there  and  two  or  three  other  men.  They 
were  talking  earnestly. 

"How  is  he,  Noah?"  demanded  the  doctor, 
jumping  to  the  ground. 

"  I  don't  know,  doc,"  replied  Ellis.  "  I  ain't 
heard  sence  last  night  when  I  telegraphed  you." 

"  Haven't  heard?  What  do  you  mean  by  that? 
Haven't  you  been  with  him?  " 

"  No-o,"  was  the  rather  sheepish  reply.  "  You 
see,  I — I  wanted  to,  but  my  wife's  awful  scart  I'll 
catch  it  and— 

"  The  devil !  "  Dr.  Parker  swore  impatiently. 
"Who  is  with  him  then?  You  haven't  left  him 
alone,  have  you?  " 

"  No-o,"  Noah  hesitated  once  more.  "  No-o,  he 
ain't  alone.  She's  there." 

"She?    Who?     Keziah  Coffin?" 

"  I  don't  cal'late  Keziah's  heard  it  yet.  We  was 
waitin'  for  you  'fore  we  said  much  to  anybody.  But 
she's  there — the — the  one  that  found  him.  You 
see,  he  was  out  of  his  head  and  wanderin'  up  the  lane 
'most  to  the  main  road  and  she'd  been  callin'  on  Ke 
ziah  and  when  she  come  away  from  the  parsonage 
she  heard  him  hollerin'  and  goin'  on  and " 

"Who  did?" 

"  Why  "  — the  lightkeeper  glanced  at  his  com 
panions —  "  why,  doc,  'twas  Grace  Van  Home.  And 
she  fetched  him  back  to  the  shanty  and  then  come  and 
got  me  to  telegraph  you." 

"  Grace  Van  Home !  Grace  Van —  Do  you 
mean  to  say  she  is  there  with  him  now?  " 

"  Yes.  She  wouldn't  leave  him.  She  seemed 
'most  as  crazy's  he  was.  My  wife  and  me,  we — 

But  Parker  did  not  wait  to  hear  the  rest.    He  ran 

3°3 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

at  full  speed  to  the  door  of  the  shanty.  Grace  her 
self  opened  it. 

"  How  is  he?  "  demanded  the  doctor. 

"  I  think  he  seems  a  little  easier;  at  any  rate,  he's 
not  delirious.  He's  in  there.  Oh,  I'm  so  thankful 
you've  come." 

"  Is  that  the  doctor?  "  called  Ellery  weakly  from 
the  next  room.  "  Is  it?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Parker,  throwing  off  his  coat  and 
hat.  "  Coming,  Mr.  Ellery." 

"  For  God's  sake,  doctor,  send  her  away.  Don't 
let  her  stay.  Make  her  go.  Make  her  go!  I've  got 
the  smallpox  and  if  she  stays  she  will  die.  Don't  you 
understand?  she  must  go." 

"  Hush,  John,"  said  Grace  soothingly.  "  Hush, 
dear." 

Dr.  Parker  stopped  short  and  looked  at  her. 
She  returned  the  look,  but  without  the  slightest  sem 
blance  of  self-consciousness  or  embarrassment.  She 
did  not  realize  that  she  had  said  anything  unusual, 
which  must  sound  inexplicably  strange  to  him.  Her 
thoughts  were  centered  in  that  adjoining  room  and 
she  wondered  why  he  delayed. 

"Well?"  she  asked  impatiently.  "What  is  it? 
Why  do  you  wait?  " 

The  doctor  did  not  answer.  However,  he  waited 
no  longer,  but  hurried  in  to  his  new  patient. 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

IN    WHICH    KEZIAH    DECIDES    TO    FIGHT 

THE  news  was  flying  from  house  to  house 
along  the  main  road.  Breakfasts  were  in 
terrupted  as  some  neighbor  rushed  in  to 
tell  the  story  which  another  neighbor  had  brought 
to  him  or  her.  Mr.  Ellery  was  very  sick  and  it  was 
feared  he  had  the  smallpox,  that  was  what  Mrs. 
Parker,  the  doctor's  wife,  told  those  who  lived  near 
her.  By  the  time  the  Corners  heard  of  it  the  tale 
had  grown  until  the  minister  was  said  to  be  dying. 
And  when  it  reached  Gaius  Winslow's  home  at  the 
upper  end  of  the  town  he  was  reported  dead.  This 
was  denied,  upon  investigation,  but  soon  another 
rumor  grew  and  spread;  Grace  Van  Home  was  with 
him,  had  taken  him  back  to  the  shanty,  and  insisted 
upon  staying  there  until  the  doctor  came.  Facing 
that  dreadful  disease  and —  It  was  wonderful— 
and  queer. 

At  the  Danielses'  house  the  servant  girl  rushed 
into  the  dining  room  to  serve  the  toast  and  the  story 
at  one  swoop.  Captain  Elkanah's  dignity  deserted 
him  for  an  instant  and  his  egg  spoon  jingled  to  the 
floor.  Annabel's  face  turned  a  dull  red.  Her  eyes 
flashed  sparks. 

"  Pa  !  "  she  cried,  "  I — I — if  you  don't  do  some 
thing  now  I'll  never ' 

305 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Her  father  shook  his  head  warningly.  ;'  Deb- 
by,"  he  said  to  the  maid,  "  you  needn't  wait." 

Debby  departed  reluctantly.  After  the  kitchen 
door  had  closed,  Captain  Elkanah  said:  "  My  dear, 
we  mustn't  be  too  hasty  in  this  matter.  Remember, 
Mr.  Ellery  is  very  sick.  As  for — for  the  Van  Home 
girl,  we  haven't  heard  the  whole  truth  yet.  She  may 
not  be  there  at  all,  or  it  may  be  just  an  accident— 

"  Accident !  Pa,  you  make  me  boil.  Accident ! 
Accidents  like  that  don't  happen.  If  you  let  her  stay 
there,  or  if—  Oh,  to  think  of  it !  And  we  were  call 
ing  him  a  hero  and — and  everything !  Hero !  he 
stayed  there  just  so  she  might 

"Hush!  hush,  child!" 

"  I  shan't  hush.  Pa,  are  you  going  to  let  him  dis 
grace  himself  with  her?  " 

"  No,  no.  Probably  there  ain't  any  idea  of  his 
marrying  her.  If  there  is— 

"  If  there  is  you  put  him  out  of  the  church  and 
out  of  this  town.  And  as  for  her —  O-oh !  And 
we've  been  having  him  here  at  dinner  and — and  I 
have —  Oh,  I  shall  die  !  I  wish  I  was  dead !  " 

Then  followed  hysterics  and  agony,  greedily  lis 
tened  to  by  Debby,  whose  ear  was  at  the  crack 
of  the  door.  Captain  Elkanah  soothed  and  pleaded 
and  tried  to  pacify.  It  ended  by  his  promising  to 
investigate  and,  if  necessary,  take  steps  '  imme- 
jitly." 

Lavinia  Pepper  sprung  the  mine  on  her  brother. 
Kyan  was  horrified.  He  had  grown  to  be  one  of  El- 
lery's  most  devoted  worshipers. 

"Smallpox!"  he  groaned.  "The  minister  got 
the  smallpox.  Oh !  that's  tumble." 

"Ain't  it?"  observed  his  sister,   also   horrified, 
306 


KEZIAH    DECIDES   TO    FIGHT 

but  rather  relishing  the  horror.  "  And  if  it  hadn't 
been  for  Gracie  Van  Home 

"  What?  " 

"  What's  the  matter  with  you?  I  say,  if  Gracie 
Van  Home  hadn't  happened  to  meet  him,  wanderin' 
around,  crazy  as  a  coot,  and  toted  him  back — 

"Gracie  —  Van  —  Home!  Godfreys  mighty! 
She — she  met  him?  Where?  Down  to  Peters's 
grove,  was  it?  " 

"  Peters's  grove !  No.  What  on  earth  made 
you  think  'twas  there?  She'd  been  visitin'  Keziah 
Coffin  at  the  parsonage,  and  when  she  come  out  on 
the  main  road  she  heard  him  aravin'  down  the  lane. 
Must  have  passed  right  by  this  house  and  we  never 
heard  him.  I  never  see  such  a  dead  man  as  you  be 
when  you're  asleep.  You  don't  sound  dead,  I'll  say 
that  for  you,  but  nothin'  wakes  you  up." 

;'  Why,  Laviny !  you  never  woke  up  yourself." 

"  That's  right,  lay  it  onto  me.  I  expected  you 
would;  it's  just  like  you.  But  why  in  time  did  you 
think  Grace  met  the  minister  way  down  to  Peters's 
grove?  That's  the  most  loony  notion  ever  I  heard, 
even  from  you.  What  made  you  think  of  it?  " 

"  Nothin',  nothin'.  I  guess  I  was  loony,  maybe. 
Dear!  dear!  dear!  have  you  heard  how's  he's  gettin' 
on?  Is  he  took  bad?  " 

"  I  ain't  heard  nothin'  yet,  nobody  has.  But  see 
here,  'Bish  Pepper,  you  act  funny  to  me.  I  want 
to  know  more  about  that  Peters's  grove  notion.  Why 
did  you  say  it?  " 

Kyan  wriggled  upon  the  rack  and  dodged  and 
squirmed  for  the  next  twenty  minutes.  He  tried  his 
best  to  keep  the  fateful  secret,  but  he  admitted  too 
much,  or  not  enough,  and  his  sister  kept  up  the  cross- 

307 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

examination.  At  the  end  of  the  session  she  was  still 
unsatisfied,  but  she  was  on  the  scent  and  her  brother 
knew  it.  He  fled  to  the  woodshed  and  there  punc 
tuated  his  morning  task  of  kindling  chopping  with 
groans  and  awful  forebodings. 

One  of  the  very  first  to  hear  of  the  minister's  ill 
ness  was  Keziah  Coffin.  Mrs.  Parker  told  her  and 
Keziah  started  for  the  beach  before  the  tale  of 
Grace's  part  in  the  night's  happenings  reached  the 
village.  She  did  not  wait  for  a  conveyance,  hardly 
waited  to  throw  a  shawl  over  her  shoulders,  but 
began  to  cover  the  three  miles  on  foot.  She  had 
walked  nearly  two  thirds  of  the  distance  when  Cap 
tain  Zeb  Mayo  overtook  her  and  gave  her  a  seat  in 
his  chaise. 

They  said  little  during  the  drive,  the  shock  and 
anxiety  forbidding  conversation.  At  the  ropes  was 
the  same  group,  larger  now,  and  Dr.  Parker's  horse 
was  hitched  to  one  of  the  posts. 

'  You  can't  go  in,  Mrs.  Coffin,"  said  Thoph 
Black.  '  The  doctor  give  us  his  orders  not  to  let 
nobody  get  by.  I  guess  nobody  wants  to,  but  all 
the  same — 

Keziah  paid  not  the  slightest  attention  to  Mr. 
Black.  She  stooped  beneath  his  arm,  under  the  rope 
and  was  on  her  way  to  the  shanty  before  they  realized 
her  intention.  Captain  Zeb  roared  a  command  for 
her  to  return,  but  she  kept  on.  No  one  followed, 
not  even  the  captain.  Mrs.  Mayo  had  strictly  for 
bidden  his  passing  the  dead  line. 

Keziah  opened  the  door  and  entered  the  little 
building.  The  living  room  was  empty,  but  at  the 
sound  of  her  step  some  one  came  from  the  room 
adjoining.  That  some  one  was  Grace. 

308 


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KEZIAH    DECIDES    TO    FIGHT 

"  Aunt  Keziah !  "  she  cried.  "  What  did  you 
come  here  for?  Why  did  you?  " 

"  Gracie  !  "  exclaimed  the  housekeeper.  "You? 
— you?" 

Dr.  Parker  appeared,  holding  up  a  hand  for 
silence. 

"  Hush !  "  he  cried.  "  He's  quiet  now  and  I 
think  he  will  sleep.  Don't  talk  here.  Go  outside,  if 
you  must  talk — and  I  suppose  you  must." 

Grace  led  the  way.  Fortunately,  the  door  was  on 
the  side  not  visible  from  the  spot  where  Captain  Zeb 
and  the  rest  were  standing.  Keziah,  bewildered  and 
amazed  at  the  girl's  presence,  followed  dumbly. 

"  Now,  auntie,"  whispered  Grace,  turning  to 
her,  "  you  want  to  know  how  he  is,  of  course.  Well, 
I  think  he  is  better.  The  doctor  thinks  so,  too.  But 
why  did  you  come  here?  " 

"  Why  did  I  come ?  I?  Why,  because  my  place 
was  here.  I  belonged  here.  For  the  love  of  mercy's 
sakes  what  are  you  doin'  here?  With  him?  And 
the  smallpox!  " 

"  Hush.  I  can't  help  it.  I  don't  care.  I  don't 
care  for  anything  any  more.  I'm  glad  I  came.  I'm 
glad  I  was  the  one  to  find  him  and  help  him.  No 
matter  what  happens — to  me — I'm  glad.  I  never 
was  so  glad  before.  I  love  him,  Aunt  Keziah.  I 
can  say  it  to  you,  for  you  know  it — you  must  know 
it.  I  love  him  and  he  needed  me  and  I  came.  He 
was  calling  my  name  when  I  found  him.  He  might 
have  died  there,  alone  in  the  wet  and  cold,  and  I 
saved  him.  Think  what  that  means  to  me." 

The  girl  was  in  a  sort  of  frenzy  of  excitement 
and  hysterical  exaltation.  All  the  night  she  had 
been  calm  and  quiet,  repressing  her  feelings,  and 

309 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

tending  the  man  she  loved.  Now,  with  some  one  to 
whom  she  could  confide,  she  was  calm  no  longer. 
Keziah  answered  her  soothingly,  questioning  her 
from  time  to  time,  until,  at  last,  she  learned  the 
whole  story. 

The  door  opened  softly  and  Dr.  Parker  came  out. 

"  He's  asleep,"  he  said.  "  And  he's  better,  much 
better.  And  I'll  tell  you  something  else,  if  you  won't 
make  too  much  noise  about  it — he  hasn't  got  the 
smallpox." 

The  two  women  looked  at  him. 

"  Fact,"  he  said,  with  an  emphatic  nod.  "  Not 
a  symptom  of  it.  I'd  have  bet  my  best  hat  that  he 
wasn't  going  to  have  it  and  I  won't  have  to  go  bare 
headed  yet  awhile.  He  is  pretty  close  to  brain  fever, 
though,  but  I  guess  he'll  dodge  that  this  time,  with 
care.  On  the  whole,  Keziah,  I'm  glad  you  came. 
This  young  lady,"  with  a  movement  of  the  head 
toward  Grace,  "  has  done  her  part.  She  really  saved 
his  life,  if  I'm  not  mistaken.  Now,  I  think  she  can 
go  away  and  leave  him  to  you  and  me.  I'll  pretty 
nearly  guarantee  to  have  him  up  and  out  of  this — 
this  pesthole  in  a  fortnight." 

Here  was  joyful  tidings,  the  better  for  being  so 
unexpected.  Keziah  leaned  against  the  boards  and 
drew  a  long  breath.  Grace  said  nothing,  but,  after  a 
moment,  she  went  into  the  house. 

4  That's  a  good  thing,  too,"  commented  Parker, 
watching  her  as  she  went.  "  I  wanted  to  talk  with 
you,  Keziah  Coffin,  and  right  away.  Now,  then, 
there's  something  up,  something  that  I  don't  know 
about,  and  I  rather  guess  you  do.  Young  women — 
even  when  they're  her  kind  and  that's  as  good  a  kind 
as  there  is — don't  risk  smallpox  for  any  young  man 

310 


KEZIAH    DECIDES    TO    FIGHT 

they  pick  up  casually.  They  don't  carry — I  guess 
it  was  pretty  nearly  carrying — him  home  and  put 
him  to  bed  and  care  for  him  and  cry  over  him  and 
call  him  '  dear.'  And  he  doesn't  beg  them  to  run 
away  and  let  him  die  rather  than  to  stay  there  and 
risk  dying,  too.  No,  not  to  any  great  extent.  Now, 
Keziah,  you  and  I  are  fairly  good  friends  and  we 
ought  to  know  each  other  by  this  time.  I  see  a  light 
—a  little  one.  Now,  then,  if  you  turn  up  the  lamp, 
so  that  I  can  see  the  whole  blaze,  maybe  I  can  help 
those  two  in  yonder." 

Keziah  considered.  "  All  right,  doctor,"  she 
said,  when  she  reached  a  decision,  "  all  right;  I'll  tell 
you  the  whole  thing,  and  you  can  see  one  of  the 
reasons  why  my  hair  is  gettin'  grayer.  This  thing 
has  reached  the  point  now  where  there's  no  keepin' 
it  quiet.  Folk'll  know — I  s'pose  they  know  already 
— that  she's  been  here  with  him.  They'll  suspect  a 
lot  more  and  the  truth  is  better  than  suspicion — that 
is,  it  can't  be  worse  than  the  suspicions  that  come 
natural  to  a  good  many  minds  in  this  town.  I  am 
glad  I  can  tell  you,  for  I  guess  the  time's  come  to 
step  out  in  broad  daylight  and  h'ist  our  colors.  Now, 
you  listen.  Here  'tis,  from  beginnin'  to  end." 

She  went  on  to  tell  all  she  knew  of  her  parson's 
love  story. 

Dr.  Parker  listened. 

"  Hum !  "  he  said  thoughtfully,  "  I  see.  What 
made  her  change  her  mind  so  suddenly?  You  say, 
or  you  gather  from  what  Mr.  Ellery  told  you,  that 
she  had  all  but  agreed  to  marry  him.  She  cares 
for  him,  that's  sure.  Then,  all  at  once,  she  throws 
him  over  and  accepts  Nat.  Of  course  her  uncle's 
sudden  seizure  was  a  shock  and  he  wanted  Nat  to 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

have  her,  but  she  isn't  the  kind  of  girl  to  be  easily 
swayed.     Why  did  she  do  it?" 

"  Well,  doctor,  that's  kind  of  a  puzzle  to  me. 
All  I  can  think  is  that  she  come  to  realize  what  it 
might  mean  to  him,  the  minister,  if  he  married  a 
Come-Outer.  I  think  she  done  it  for  his  sake,  to 
save  him,  though  what  made  her  realize  it  all  at 
once  I  don't  know.  There's  the  part  we  ain't 
heard." 

"  I  guess  you're  right.  Something  happened 
between  the  time  she  left  Ellery  and  when  you  and  I 
reached  the  tavern.  But  never  mind  that,  that  doesn't 
count  now.  Let's  look  at  things  as  they  are  this 
minute.  She's  here  and  folks  know  it.  As  they  do 
know  it  they'll  begin  to  talk,  and  the  more  they  talk 
the  farther  from  the  truth  they'll  get — most  of  'em. 
Nat,  poor  chap,  is  dead,  so  her  promise  to  him  is 
canceled.  Ellery  will  get  well  if  he  isn't  troubled, 
and  her  being  with  him  will  help  more  than  anything 
else.  I  can  understand  now  why  he  broke  down." 
'  Yes,  he  ain't  been  himself  since  it  happened." 

"  Of  course,  and  the  last  few  weeks  of  worry 
and  night  work  have  helped  to  wreck  his  nerves. 
Well,  as  I  see  it,  there's  only  one  thing  to  do.  If 
she  leaves  him  he'll  go  to  pieces  again,  so  she  mustn't 
leave.  And  she  can't  stay  without  an  explanation. 
I  say  let's  give  the  explanation;  let's  come  right  out 
with  the  announcement  that  they're  engaged." 

"  Whew!  that'll  stir  things  up." 
'  You  bet !  But  let  it  stir.  I  like  that  parson 
of  yours;  he's  a  trump.  And  I  always  liked  her, 
although,  generally  speaking,  I  don't  love  Come- 
Outers.  And  I  like  her  more  than  ever  now,  when 
she  risked  what  she  thought  was  smallpox  to  care 

312 


KEZIAH    DECIDES    TO    FIGHT 

for  him.      As   I   said,   she   saved   his   life,    and   she 
ought  to  have  him.     She  shall  have  him." 

"  But  she's  a  Come-Outer  and  —  there's  the 
church." 

"  Well,  I  know  it.  But  he  never  was  so  popular 
as  he  is  now.  And  she  isn't  by  any  means  a  steady- 
going  Come-Outer.  Why,  Zeke  Bassett  and  the  rest 
have  been  finding  fault  with  her  and  calling  her  a 
backslider.  That'll  help.  Then  you  trust  me  to 
whoop  up  her  heroism  and  the  fact  that  without  her 
he  would  have  died.  We  can  do  it,  Keziah.  Come 
on !  I've  tackled  a  good  many  jobs,  but  matchmak 
ing  isn't  one  of  'em.  Here  goes  to  tackle  that." 

Keziah  was  delighted;  here  was  work  after  her 
own  heart.  But  she  still  hesitated. 

"  Doctor,"  she  said,  "  you've  forgot  one  thing, 
that's  Gracie  herself.  Would  she  marry  him  now, 
knowing  it  may  mean  the  loss  of  his  ministry  and 
all,  any  more  than  she  would  at  first?  I  don't  believe 
it." 

'  That's  your  part,  Keziah.  You've  got  to  show 
her  she  must  marry  him  or  he'll  die;  see?  Call  on 
me  to  back  you  up  in  any  fairy  yarn  you  spin.  You 
prove  to  her  it's  her  duty  to  marry  him.  You'll  have 
to  stay  here  and  help  nurse,  of  course,  and  that's 
easy  because  his  disease  isn't  contagious.  You  con 
vince  her  and  I'll  take  care  of  the  congregation. 
He'll  live  to  be  minister  here  for  the  rest  of  his  life, 
if  he  wants  to,  and  she'll  be  a  minister's  wife  and 
sit  in  the  front  pew.  I'll  guarantee  the  church  if 
you'll  guarantee  the  girl.  Why,  it's  your  duty ! 
Come,  now,  what  do  you  say?  " 

Keziah's  hesitation  was  at  an  end.  Her  face 
lit  up. 

22  313 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  I  say  good !  "  she  cried.  "  And  I'll  be  thankful 
to  you  all  the  rest  of  my  life.  But  for  the  dear  mercy 
sakes,  don't  say  '  duty  '  to  me  again.  Oh,  doctor,  if 
you  only  knew  what  it  means  to  me  to  be  fightin' 
at  last  for  somethin'  that  ain't  just  duty,  but  what  I 
really  want !  I  do  honestly  believe  we  can  win. 
Glory,  hallelujah !  And  now  I  want  to  give  you  a 
piece  of  advice,  your  course  for  the  first  leg,  as  you 
might  say:  you  see  Cap'n  Zebedee  Mayo." 

"  Humph !  Cap'n  Zeb  is  the  first  man  I  mean 
to  see." 

Captain  Zeb  listened  with  his  mouth  and  eyes 
and  ears  open.  Mrs.  Mayo  was  with  him  when  the 
doctor  called,  and  she,  too,  listened. 

"Well!"  exclaimed  the  captain,  when  the  plea 
for  support  was  ended.  "  Well,  by  the  flukes  of 
Jonah's  whale !  Talk  about  surprises !  Old  lady, 
what  do  you  say?  " 

"  I  say  go  ahead,  Zebedee.  Go  ahead!  If  Mr. 
Ellery  wanted  to  marry  Jezebel's  sister,  and  I  knew 
he  really  wanted  to,  I'd — I  do  believe  I'd  help  him 
get  her.  And  Grace  Van  Home  is  a  good  girl.  Go 
ahead." 

"  Of  course,"  put  in  Parker,  profiting  by  a  hint  of 
Mrs.  Coffin's,  "  of  course  Daniels  will  fight  tooth 
and  nail  against  us.  He'll  be  for  discharging  Ellery 
at  once.  And  he  really  runs  the  parish  committee." 

"  He  does,  hey?  Well,  I  cal'late  he  don't.  Not 
if  I'm  on  deck,  he  don't.  All  right,  doctor,  I'm  with 
you.  He,  he,  he !  "  he  chuckled.  "  Say,  doc,  do 
you  know  I  sort  of  love  a  good  lively  row.  That's 
been  the  only  trouble  with  our  society  sence  Mr. 
Ellery  took  command  of  it — there  ain't  been  any 
rows.  He,  he,  he!  Well,  there'll  be  one  now." 


KEZIAH    DECIDES    TO    FIGHT 

There  was,  and  it  was  lively  enough  to  suit  even 
Captain  Zeb.  Dr.  Parker,  on  his  calls  that  day, 
was  assailed  with  a  multitude  of  questions  concern 
ing  Grace's  presence  at  the  shanty.  He  answered 
them  cheerfully,  dilating  upon  the  girl's  bravery,  her 
good  sense,  and  the  fact  that  she  had  saved  Mr. 
Ellery's  life.  Then  he  confided,  as  a  strict  secret,  the 
fact  that  the  two  were  engaged.  Before  his  hearers 
had  recovered  from  the  shock  of  this  explosion,  he 
was  justifying  the  engagement.  Why  shouldn't  they 
marry  if  they  wanted  to?  It  was  a  free  country. 
The  girl  wasn't  a  Come-Outer  any  longer,  and,  be 
sides — and  this  carried  weight  in  a  good  many 
households — what  a  black  eye  the  marriage  would 
be  for  that  no-account  crowd  at  the  chapel. 

Captain  Zebedee,  having  shipped  with  the  in 
surgents,  worked  for  them  from  sunrise  to  sunset 
and  after.  Zeb  was  something  of  a  politician  and 
knew  whom  to  "  get  at."  He  sought  his  fellows  on 
the  parish  committee  and  labored  with  them.  Mrs. 
Mayo  and  the  doctor's  wife  championed  the  cause 
at  sewing  circle.  They  were  lively,  those  sewing 
meetings,  and  the  fur  flew.  Didama  Rogers  and 
Lavinia  Pepper  were  everywhere  and  ready  to  agree 
with  whichever  side  seemed  likely  to  win.  Lavinia 
was  so  deeply  interested  that  she  forgot  to  catechise 
Abishai  further  about  his  untimely  reference  to 
Peters's  grove.  And  Kyan,  puzzled  but  thankful, 
kept  silence. 

It  was  by  no  means  a  one-sided  struggle.  Cap 
tain  Elkanah,  spurred  on  by  the  furious  Annabel, 
marshaled  his  forces  and  proclaimed  that  Ellery, 
having  disgraced  the  Regular  Society,  should  no 
longer  occupy  its  pulpit. 

315 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  If  he  does,"  thundered  Elkanah,  "  I  shall  never 
cross  the  threshold  of  that  church.  And  I've  wor 
shiped  there  for  fifty  years.  Hum — ha !  I  should 
like  to  know  whose  money  has  gone  more  liberal  for 
that  meeting  house  than  mine !  But  not  another  cent 
— no,  sir!  not  one — if  that  licentious  young  scamp 
continues  to  blaspheme  there." 

He  hinted  concerning  a  good-sized  contribution 
toward  a  parish  house,  something  the  society  needed. 
If  Ellery  was  discharged,  the  contribution  would 
probably  be  made,  not  otherwise.  And  this  was  a 
point  worth  considering. 

Daniels  also  wrote  to  his  influential  friends  of 
the  National  Regular  Society.  But  Captain  Zebedee 
had  forestalled  him  there  and  both  letters  were  laid 
on  the  table  to  await  further  developments.  As  for 
the  Come-Outers,  they  were  wild  with  rage  and  Grace 
was  formally  read  out  of  their  communion. 

"  I  wonder,"  shrieked  Ezekiel  Bassett,  in  prayer 
meeting,  "  what  the  sperrit  of  the  good  and  great 
man  who  used  to  lead  us  from  this  'ere  platform 
would  say  if  he  was  here  now?  Hey?  what  would 
he  say?  " 

Josiah  Badger  upreared  his  lanky  person.  "  I 
dreamed  about  Cap'n  Eben  t'other  n-nin-nun-night," 
he  stammered.  "  I  see  him  just  as — p-pup-pup-plain 
as  you  hear  me  n-n-now.  And  he  says  to  me,  he  says, 
Josiah,'  he  says,  '  I-I-I-I — 

"  Ki  yi !  "  broke  in  Thoph  Baker,  from  the 
shadow  of  the  rear  seat.  Josiah  turned  to  berate 
Thoph,  who,  being  in  disgrace  because  of  his  defense 
of  Ellery,  was  reckless,  and  the  communication  from 
the  dead  leader  of  the  Come-Outers  was  lost  in  the 
squabble  which  followed. 


KEZIAH    DECIDES    TO    FIGHT 

Meantime  Keziah,  installed  as  head  nurse  at  the 
shanty,  was  having  her  troubles.  The  minister  was 
getting  better,  slowly  but  surely  getting  better.  The 
danger  of  brain  fever  was  at  an  end,  but  he  was 
very  weak  and  must  not  be  excited,  so  the  doctor 
said.  He  knew  nothing  of  the  struggle  for  and 
against  him  which  was  splitting  Trumet  in  twain, 
and  care  was  taken  that  he  should  not  know  it.  He 
was  not  allowed  to  talk,  and,  for  the  most  part,  was 
quite  contented  to  be  silent,  watching  Grace  as  she 
moved  about  the  room.  If  he  wondered  why  she 
was  still  with  him,  he  said  nothing,  and  the  thought 
of  what  his  congregation  might  say  did  not  vex  him 
in  the  least.  She  was  there,  he  saw  her  every  day, 
that  was  enough. 

He  had  expressed  a  wish  to  talk  with  his  house 
keeper.  ;'  I've  got  something  to  tell  you,  Aunt 
Keziah,"  he  said  weakly.  "  Some  news  for  you  and 
— and- 

"  Cat's  foot!"  snapped  Keziah  briskly,  "don't 
start  in  tellin'  me  news  now.  I've  got  my  hands 
full  as  'tis.  News'll  keep  and  you  won't,  if  you  talk 
another  minute." 

"  But  this  is  important." 

"  So  are  you,  though  you  may  not  think  so. 
If  you  don't  believe  it  ask  Grace." 

"  Well,"  the  minister  sighed.  "  Well,  perhaps  I 
won't  tell  it  now.  I'd  rather  wait  until  I  feel 
stronger.  You  won't  care,  will  you  ?  It  will  be  hard 
to  tell  and  I— 

"  No,  no!  Care?  No.  If  it's  bad  news  I  don't 
want  to  hear  it,  and  if  it's  good  I  can  wait,  I  cal'late. 
You  turn  over  and  take  a  nap." 

She  could  manage  him;  it  was  with  Grace  that 
317 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

she  had  her  struggle.  John  was  safe  now;  he  would 
be  himself  again  before  very  long,  and  the  girl  had 
begun  to  think  of  his  future  and  his  reputation.  She 
knew  that  gossip  must  be  busy  in  the  village,  and, 
much  as  she  wished  to  remain  by  his  side,  she  decided 
that  she  should  not  do  so.  And  then  Keziah  began 
to  fulfill  her  agreement  with  Dr.  Parker. 

First,  and  bluntly,  she  told  the  girl  that  her  leav 
ing  now  was  useless.  The  secret  was  out;  it  had  been 
made  public.  Everyone  knew  she  was  in  love  with 
John  and  he  with  her.  Their  engagement  was  con 
sidered  an  established  certainty.  Grace  was  greatly 
agitated  and  very  indignant. 

"Who  dared  say  so?"  she  demanded.  "Who 
dared  say  we  were  engaged?  It's  not  true.  It's  a 
wicked  lie  and —  Who  is  responsible,  Aunt  Ke 
ziah?" 

'  Well,  I  suppose  likely  I  am,  much  as  anybody, 
deary." 

"You?    You,  Aunt  Keziah?" 
'Yup;  me.     You  are  in  love  with  him;  at  any 
rate,  you  said  so.     And  you're  here  with  him,  ain't 
you?     If  you  two  ain't  engaged  you  ought  to  be." 

"Aunt  Keziah,  how  can  you  speak  so?  Don't 
you  realize — 

"  Look  here.     Don't  you  want  to  marry  him?  " 

"Want  to?  Oh,  please—  How  can  you? 
I " 

"  S-s-sh  !  There  !  there  !  I  am  a  bull-headed 
old  thing,  for  sure.  But  I'm  like  the  dog  that  chased 
the  rat  across  the  shelf  where  they  kept  the  best 
china,  my  intentions  are  good.  Don't  cry,  deary. 
Let's  get  to  the  bottom  of  this  thing,  as  the  man 
said  when  he  tumbled  into  the  well.  When  I  first 


KEZIAH    DECIDES    TO    FIGHT 

knew  that  you  and  John  were  in  love  with  each 
other,  I  felt  dreadful.  I  knew  your  uncle  and  I  knew 
Trumet.  If  you  had  married  then,  or  let  people 
know  that  you  thought  of  it,  'twould  have  been  the 
end,  and  ruin  for  John  and  you.  But  things  are 
diff'rent  now,  a  good  deal  diff'rent.  John  is  wor 
shiped  pretty  nigh,  since  his  pluck  with  that  small 
pox  man-.  He  could  go  into  church  and  dance  a  jig 
in  the  pulpit  and  nobody — or  precious  few,  at  least 
— would  find  fault.  And  you've  stood  by  him. 
If  it  wa'n't  for  you  he  wouldn't  be  here  to-day, 
and  people  know  that.  Dr.  Parker  and  Captain 
Zebedee  and  Gaius  Winslow  and  dozens  more  are 
fighting  for  him  and  for  you.  And  the  doctor  says 
they  are  going  to  win.  Do  you  want  to  spoil  it 
all?" 

"  Aunt  Keziah,  that  night  before  uncle  died  I 
was  upstairs  in  my  room  and  I  heard  uncle  and  Cap 
tain  Elkanah  Daniels  talking." 

"  Elkanah?     Was  he  there  at  your  house?" 

"  Yes.  Somehow  or  other — I  don't  know  how 
—he  had  learned  about — about  John  and  me.  And 
he  was  furious.  Aunt  Keziah,  I  heard  him  say  that 
unless  I  broke  off  with  John  he  would  drive  him  from 
the  ministry  and  from  Trumet  and  disgrace  him  for 
ever.  He  said  that  if  I  really  cared  for  him  I  would 
not  ruin  his  life.  That  brought  me  to  myself.  I 
realized  how  wicked  I  had  been  and  what  I  was 
doing.  That  was  why  I — I— 

"  There  !  there  !  Tut !  tut !  tut !  Hum  !  Now  I 
see.  But,  Gracie,  you  ain't  goin'  to  ruin  his  life. 
No,  nor  Elkanah  ain't  goin'  to  do  it,  either.  He 
can't,  no  matter  how  hard  he  tries.  I've  lived  to  see 
the  day  when  there's  a  bigger  man  in  the  Reg'lar 

3*9 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

church  than  Elkanah  Daniels,  and  I  thank  the  good 
Lord  for  it." 

"  I  never  should  have  come  here.  I  know  it. 
But  he  needed  me.  Aunt  Keziah,  he  was  sick  and 
dying  almost,  and  I  couldn't  leave  him.  I  came,  and 
now  he  will  be  ruined  and  disgraced." 

"  He  won't,  I  tell  you ;  he  won't.  Listen  to  me. 
I  ain't  talkin'  for  my  health.  Listen !  " 

She  argued  and  pleaded  and  coaxed,  and,  at  last, 
when  she  began  to  think  she  had  prevailed,  Grace 
brought  forward  another  objection.  She  had  given 
her  word  to  her  uncle.  How  could  she  break  that 
promise  made  to  a  dying  man?  She  would  feel  like 
a  traitor. 

"Traitor  to  who?"  demanded  the  housekeeper, 
losing  patience.  "  Not  to  poor  Nat,  for  he's  gone. 
And  don't  you  suppose  that  he  and  Eben  understand 
things  better  now,  where  they  are?  Do  you  suppose 
that  Nat  wouldn't  want  you  to  be  happy?  I  know 
he  would,  for  I  knew  him." 

It  was  still  unsettled  when  the  long  talk  was  over, 
but  Grace  agreed  not  to  leave  the  minister  at  present. 
She  would  stay  where  she  was  until  he  was  himself 
again,  at  least.  Keziah  was  satisfied  with  the  prelim 
inary  skirmish.  She  felt  confident  of  winning  the 
victory,  and  in  the  prospect  of  happiness  for  others, 
she  was  almost  happy  herself.  Yet  each  time  the 
mail  was  brought  to  the  shanty  she  dreaded  to  look 
at  it,  and  the  sight  of  a  stranger  made  her  shake  with 
fear.  Ansel  Coffin  had  threatened  to  come  to  Tru- 
met.  If  he  came,  she  had  made  up  her  mind  what 
to  do. 

The  parish  committee  was  to  meet.  Captain 
Elkanah  had  announced  his  intention  of  moving  that 

320 


r"He  may  be  minister  of  the  Regular  church  .  .  .  but  he'll 
never  marry  her,  now.'" 


KEZIAH    DECIDES    TO    FIGHT 

John  Ellery  be  expelled  from  the  Regular  church. 
There  was  to  be  no  compromise,  no  asking  for  a 
resignation;  he  must  be  discharged,  thrown  out  in 
disgrace.  The  county  papers  were  full  of  the 
squabble,  but  they  merely  reported  the  news  and  did 
not  take  sides.  The  fight  was  too  even  for  that. 

Captain  Zeb  chuckled.  "  It's  all  right,  Keziah," 
he  said.  "  We  know  what's  what  and  who's  who. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Ellery  can  preach  here  for  the  next 
hundred  year,  if  he  lives  that  long  and  wants  to,  and 
he  can  marry  whoever  he  darn  pleases,  besides.  El- 
kanah's  licked  and  he  knows  it.  He  ain't  got  enough 
backers  to  man  a  lobster  dory.  Let  him  holler;  noise 
don't  scare  grown  folks." 

One  afternoon  a  few  days  before  the  date  set  for 
the  meeting  Elkanah  and  two  or  three  of  his  hench 
men  were  on  the  piazza  of  the  Daniels  home,  dis 
cussing  the  situation.  They  were  blue  and  downcast. 
Annabel  was  in  the  sitting  room,  shedding  tears  of 
humiliation  and  jealous  rage  on  the  haircloth  sofa. 

''  Well,"  observed  her  father,  "  there's  one  thing 
we  can  do.  If  the  vote  in  committee  goes  against 
us,  I  shall  insist  on  the  calling  of  a  congregational 
meeting.  Hum — ha  !  Yes,  I  shall  insist  on  that." 

"  Won't  be  no  good,  cap'n,"  sniffed  Beriah  Sal- 
ters  dolefully.  "  The  biggest  part  of  the  congre 
gation's  for  Ellery,  and  you  know  it.  They're  as 
sot  on  him  as  if  he  was  the  angel  Gabriel.  If  you'd 
only  told  what  you  knew  afore  this  smallpox  busi 
ness,  we'd  have  been  able  to  give  him  and  his  Come- 
Outer  woman  what  b'longs  to  'em.  But  not  now." 

Captain  Daniels  shifted  uneasily  in  his  chair. 

"  Hum — ha  !  "  he  barked,  to  cover  confusion. 
"Hum — ha!  It  seemed  to  me  more — er — char- 

321 


itable    to    give    the    misguided    young   man    another 
chance,  and  I  did  it.     But-      What's  that?  " 

Some  one  was  talking  excitedly  on  the  sidewalk 
beyond  the  lilac  bushes  at  the  border  of  the  Daniels 
property.  Voices  answered.  Didama  Rogers  darted 
out  of  her  yard  and  past  the  house  in  the  direction 
of  the  sounds.  Salters  rose  and  walked  down  to 
the  gate. 

"  Hey  !  "  he  shouted.  "  Halloo  !  Ahoy  there  ! 
You,  Em'lous,  what  is  it?  " 

Emulous  Sparrow,  the  fish  peddler,  was  seated 
in  his  cart,  which  was  surrounded  by  men  and 
women,  neighbors  of  the  Danielses.  There  was  a 
perfect  storm  of  questionings  and  ejaculations. 
Salters  opened  the  gate  and  joined  the  group.  A 
moment  later  he  came  running  back,  up  the  walk 
toward  the  piazza. 

"  Cap'n,"  he  shouted.  "  Cap'n  Elkanah,  here's 
news!  What  do  you  think?  A  telegram's  just  come 
from  Nat  Hammond.  He's  safe  and  sound  in  New 
York,  and  he'll  be  here  day  after  to-morrow." 

They  could  not  believe  it  and  rushed  out  to  hear 
more.  Emulous,  glowing  with  importance,  affirmed 
that  it  was  so.  He  had  seen  the  telegram  at  the 
store.  It  was  for  Grace  Van  Horne  and  they  were 
just  going  to  send  a  boy  over  to  the  shanty  with  it. 

"  No  details  nor  nothin',"  he  declared.  "  Just 
said  '  Am  all  right.  Arrived  to-day.  Will  be  in 
Trumet  Thursday.'  And  'twas  signed  '  Nathaniel 
Hammond.'  There!" 

"Well,  by  thunder!"  exclaimed  Salters.  "If 
that  don't  beat  all.  I  wonder  what's  happened  to 
him?  Two  year  gone  and  give  up  for  dead,  and 
now—  What  do  you  cal'late  it  means?  " 

322      . 


KEZIAH    DECIDES    TO    FIGHT 

Captain  Elkanah  seized  him  by  the  arm  and  led 
him  out  of  the  group.  The  old  man's  face  was  alight 
with  savage  joy  and  his  voice  shook  with  exultation. 

"  I'll  tell  you  one  thing  it  means,"  he  whispered. 
"  It  means  the  end  of  Ellery,  so  far  as  his  marrying 
her  is  concerned.  She  gave  her  word  to  Hammond 
and  she'll  keep  it.  She's  no  liar,  whatever  else  she 
is.  He  may  be  minister  of  the  Regular  church, 
though  /'//  never  set  under  him,  but  he'll  never  marry 
her,  now." 


CHAPTER   XIX 

IN    WHICH    A    RECEPTION    IS    CALLED    OFF 

FAR  out  on  the  Pacific  coast  there  are  two  small 
islands,  perhaps  a  hundred  miles  distant  from 
one  another.     The  first  of  these  is  uninhab 
ited.      On   the   other  is   a   little   colony   of  English- 
speaking   people,    half-breed    descendants    of   native 
women  and  the  survivors  of  a  crew  from  a  British 
vessel    cast    away    there    in    the    latter    part    of    the 
eighteenth  century. 

On  the  first  of  these  islands,  the  smaller  one, 
the  Sea  Mist  had  been  wrecked.  Driven  out  of  her 
course  by  a  typhoon,  she  staggered  through  day 
after  day  and  night  after  night  of  terrific  wind  and 
storm  until,  at  last,  there  was  promise  of  fair 
weather.  Captain  Nat,  nearly  worn  out  from  anx 
iety,  care,  and  the  loss  of  sleep,  had  gone  to  his  state 
room  and  the  first  mate  was  in  charge.  It  was  three 
o'clock,  the  wind  still  blowing  and  the  darkness 
pitchy,  when  the  forward  lookout  shrieked  a  warn 
ing,  "  Breakers  under  the  lee!  "  Almost  the  next  in 
stant  the  ship  was  on  a  coral  reef,  full  of  water,  and 
the  seas  breaking  over  her  from  stem  to  stern. 

Morning  came  and  showed  a  little  patch  of  land, 
with  palm  trees  and  tropical  vegetation  waving  in 
the  gusts  and  green  in  the  sunshine.  Captain  Nat 
ordered  the  boats  to  be  lowered.  Much  as  he  hated 

324 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

the  thought,  he  saw  that  the  Sea  Mist  had  made  her 
last  voyage  and  must  be  abandoned.  He  went  to 
the  cabin,  collected  papers  and  charts  and  prepared 
to  leave.  The  ship's  money,  over  ten  thousand  dol 
lars  in  gold  belonging  to  the  owner  and  to  be  used 
in  trade  and  speculation  among  the  East  Indies,  he 
took  with  him.  Then  the  difficult  and  dangerous 
passage  through  the  opening  in  the  reef  was  begun. 

Only  the  captain's  boat  reached  the  shore.  The 
mate's  was  caught  by  a  huge  breaker,  dashed  against 
the  reef  and  sunk.  Captain' Nat,  his  second  mate  and 
five  of  his  men  were  all  that  was  left  of  the  Sea  Mist's 
company.  And  on  that  island  they  remained  for 
nearly  two  weeks.  Provisions  they  had  brought 
ashore  with  them.  Water  they  found  by  digging. 
Nat  hid  the  gold  at  night,  burying  it  on  the  beach 
below  high-water  mark. 

Then,  having  made  sure  of  his  location  by  con 
sulting  the  chart,  he  determined  to  attempt  a  voyage 
to  the  second  island,  where  he  knew  the  English 
colony  to  be.  Provisions  were  getting  short,  and  to 
remain  longer  where  they  were  was  to  risk  starvation 
and  all  its  horrors.  So,  in  the  longboat,  which  was 
provided  with  a  sail,  they  started.  Charts  and  papers 
and  the  gold  the  skipper  took  with  them.  None  of 
the  crew  knew  of  the  existence  of  the  money;  it  was 
a  secret  which  the  captain  kept  to  himself. 

A  hundred  miles  they  sailed  in  the  longboat 
and,  at  last,  the  second  island  was  sighted.  They 
landed  and  found,  to  their  consternation  and  surprise, 
that  it,  too,  was  uninhabited.  The  former  residents 
had  grown  tired  of  their  isolation  and,  a  trading 
vessel  having  touched  there,  had  seized  the  oppor 
tunity  to  depart  for  Tahiti.  Their  houses  were 

325 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

empty,  their  cattle,  sheep,  goats,  and  fowl  roamed 
wild  in  the  woods,  and  the  fruit  was  rotting  on  the 
trees.  In  its  way  the  little  island  was  an  Eveless 
Eden,  flowing  with  milk  and  honey;  but  to  Captain 
Nat,  a  conscientious  skipper  with  responsibilities  to 
his  owners,  it  was  a  prison  from  which  he  determined 
to  escape.  Then,  as  if  to  make  escape  impossible,  a 
sudden  gale  came  up  and  the  longboat  was  smashed 
by  the  surf. 

"  I  guess  that  settles  it,"  ruefully  observed  the 
second  mate,  another  Cape  Codder,  from  Hyannis. 
"  Cal'late  we'll  stay  here  for  a  spell  now,  hey, 
Cap'n." 

"  For  a  spell,  yes,"  replied  Nat.  "  We'll  stay 
here  until  we  get  another  craft  to  set  sail  in,  and  no 
longer." 

"  Another  craft?  Another  one?  Where  in  time 
you  goin'  to  get  her?  " 

"  Build  her,"  said  Captain  Nat  cheerfully. 
Then,  pointing  to  the  row  of  empty  houses  and  the 
little  deserted  church,  he  added,  "  There's  timber 
and  nails — yes,  and  cloth,  such  as  'tis.  If  I  can't 
build  a  boat  out  of  them  I'll  agree  to  eat  the  whole 
settlement." 

He  did  not  have  to  eat  it,  for  the  boat  was 
built.  It  took  them  six  months  to  build  her,  and 
she  was  a  curious-looking  vessel  when  done,  but,  as 
the  skipper  said,  "  She  may  not  be  a  clipper,  but  she'll 
sail  anywhere,  if  you  give  her  time  enough."  He 
had  been  the  guiding  spirit  of  the  whole  enterprise, 
planning  it,  laying  the  keel,  burning  buildings  to 
obtain  nails  and  iron,  hewing  trees  for  the  largest 
beams,  showing  them  how  to  spin  ropes  from  cocoa- 
nut  fiber,  improvising  sails  from  the  longboat's  can- 

326 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

vas  pieced  out  with  blankets  and  odd  bits  of  cloth 
from  the  abandoned  houses.  Even  a  strip  of  carpet 
from  the  church  floor  went  into  the  making  of  those 
sails. 

At  last  she  was  done,  but  Nat  was  not  satisfied. 

"  I  never  commanded  a  ship  where  I  couldn't 
h'ist  Yankee  colors,"  he  said,  "  and,  by  the  ever- 
lastin' !  I  won't  now.  We've  got  to  have  a  flag." 

So,  from  an  old  pair  of  blue  overalls,  a  white 
cotton  shirt,  and  the  red  hangings  of  the  church 
pulpit,  he  made  a  flag  and  hoisted  it  to  the  truck  of 
his  queer  command.  They  provisioned  her,  gave 
her  a  liberal  supply  of  fresh  water,  and,  one  morn 
ing,  she  passed  through  the  opening  of  the  lagoon 
out  to  the  deep  blue  of  the  Pacific.  And,  hidden  in 
her  captain's  stateroom  under  the  head  of  his  bunk, 
was  the  ten  thousand  dollars  in  gold.  For  Nat  had 
sworn  to  himself,  by  "  the  everlasting  "  and  other 
oaths,  to  deliver  that  money  to  his  New  York 
owners  safe  and,  necessary  expenses  deducted  of 
course,  untouched. 

For  seven  weeks  the  crazy  nondescript  slopped 
across  the  ocean.  Fair  winds  helped  her  and,  at  last, 
she  entered  the  harbor  of  Nukahiva,  over  twelve 
hundred  miles  away.  And  there — "  Hammond's 
luck,"  the  sailors  called  it — was  a  United  States  man- 
of-war  lying  at  anchor,  the  first  American  vessel  to 
touch  at  that  little  French  settlement  for  five  years. 
The  boat  they  built  was  abandoned  and  the  survivors 
of  the  Sea  Mist  were  taken  on  board  the  man-of-war 
and  carried  to  Tahiti. 

From  Tahiti  Captain  Nat  took  passage  on  a 
French  bark  for  Honolulu.  Here,  after  a  month's 
wait,  he  found  opportunity  to  leave  for  New  York  on 
23  327 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

an  American  ship,  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  And  finally, 
after  being  away  from  home  for  two  years,  he  walked 
into  the  office  of  his  New  York  owners,  deposited 
their  gold  on  a  table,  and  cheerfully  observed, 
"  Well,  here  I  am." 

That  was  the  yarn  which  Trumet  was  to  hear 
later  on.  It  filled  columns  of  the  city  papers  at  the 
time,  and  those  interested  may  read  it,  in  all  its 
details,  in  a  book  written  by  an  eminent  author.  The 
tale  of  a  Cape  Cod  sea  captain,  plucky  and  resource 
ful  and  adequate,  as  Yankee  sea  captains  were  ex 
pected  to  be,  and  were,  in  those  days. 

But  Trumet  did  not  hear  the  yarn  immediately. 
All  that  it  heard  and  all  that  it  knew  was  contained 
in  Captain  Nat's  brief  telegram.  "  Arrived  to-day. 
Will  be  home  Thursday."  That  was  all,  but  it  was 
enough,  for  in  that  dispatch  was  explosive  sufficient 
to  blow  to  atoms  the  doctor's  plans  and  Keziah's, 
the  great  scheme  which  was  to  bring  happiness  to 
John  Ellery  and  Grace  Van  Home. 

Dr.  Parker  heard  it,  while  on  his  way  to  Mrs. 
Prince's,  and,  neglecting  that  old  lady  for  the  once, 
he  turned  his  horse  and  drove  as  fast  as  possible  to 
the  shanty  on  the  beach.  Fast  as  he  drove,  Captain 
Zebedee  Mayo  got  there  ahead  of  him.  Captain 
Zeb  was  hitching  his  white  and  ancient  steed  to  the 
post  as  the  doctor  hove  in  sight. 

"By  mighty!"  the  captain  exclaimed,  with  a 
sigh  of  relief,  "  I'm  glad  enough  you've  come,  doctor. 
I  hated  to  go  in  there  alone.  You've  heard,  of 
course." 

'  Yes,  I've  heard." 

"  Say,  ain't  it  wonderful !  I'm  tickled  all  up  one 
side  and  sorry  all  down  t'other.  Nat's  a  true-blue 

328 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

feller,  and  I'm  glad  enough  that  he  ain't  shark  bait; 
but  what  about  the  minister  and  her?  She's  prom 
ised  to  Nat,  you  know,  and — 

"  I  know.  Don't  I  know!  I've  been  going  over 
the  affair  and  trying  to  see  a  way  out  ever  since  I 
heard  of  the  telegram.  Tut !  tut !  I'm  like  you, 
mighty  glad  Hammond  is  safe,  but  it  would  have 
spared  complications  if  he  had  stayed  wherever  he's 
been  for  a  few  months  longer.  We  would  have 
married  those  two  in  there  by  that  time." 

"  Sartin  we  would.  But  he  didn't  stay.  Are 
you  goin'  to  tell  Mr.  Ellery?  " 

"  Certainly  not.  And  I  hope  he  hasn't  been 
told.  He's  getting  well  fast  now,  but  he  mustn't  be 
worried,  or  back  he'll  go  again.  We  must  see  Mrs. 
Coffin.  Keziah  is  our  main  hold.  That  woman  has 
got  more  sense  than  all  the  rest  of  us  put  together." 

But  it  was  Grace,  not  Keziah,  who  opened  the 
shanty  door  in  answer  to  their  knock.  She  was  pale 
and  greeted  them  calmly,  but  it  was  evident  that  her 
calmness  was  the  result  of  sheer  will  power. 

"Won't  you  come  in,  doctor?"  she  asked. 
"  Good  afternoon,  Captain  Mayo." 

Dr.  Parker  entered  the  building,  but  Captain 
Zeb  remained  outside,  stammering  that  he  cal'lated 
he'd  better  stay  where  he  could  keep  an  eye  on  his 
horse.  This  was  such  a  transparent  excuse  that  it 
would  have  been  funny  at  any  other  time.  No  one 
smiled  now,  however. 

"  Is — is  Mrs.  Coffin — er — Keziah  aboard?"  the 
captain  asked. 

"  No,  she  isn't.  She  went  to  the  parsonage  a 
few  hours  ago.  Mr.  Ellis  brought  the  mail  and 
there  was  a  letter  in  it  for  her.  She  said  it  was 

329 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

important  and  that  she  must  go  home  to  see  about 
some  things.     She'll  be  back  pretty  soon,  I  suppose." 

The  doctor  whispered  her  name  then  and  she 
went  inside,  closing  the  door  after  her.  Captain 
Zebedee  sat  down  on  the  step  to  ponder  over  the  new 
and  apparently  insurmountable  difficulty  which  had 
arisen.  As  he  said  afterwards,  "  The  more  I  tried  to 
get  an  observation,  the  thicker  it  got.  Blamed  if  I 
could  see  anything  but  fog,  but  I  could  hear — I 
could  hear  Elkanah  and  his  gang  gigglin',  ahead, 
astern  and  off  both  bows." 

Parker  found  his  patient  sleeping  soundly  and 
had  not  disturbed  him.  Returning  to  the  living  room 
he  spoke  to  Grace. 

"Humph!"  he  grunted,  watching  her  from 
under  his  brows,  "  everything  seems  to  be  all  right  in 
there.  He  hasn't  been  excited  or  anything  like 
that?" 

11  No." 

'  That's  good.  He  mustn't  be.  You  understand 
that?  He  mustn't  be  told  anything  that  will  upset 
him.  He's  getting  well  fast  and  I  want  it  to  con 
tinue." 

"  Yes,  I  understand." 

"  Hum !  Er — have  you  heard —  Has  anyone 
been  here?  " 

'  Yes.  I  have  heard.  The  telegram  came  and 
I  answered  it." 

'You  did?  Well,  it's  a  miracle  and  we're  all 
thankful,  of  course.  Did  you — er — er " 

"  Doctor,  I  must  go  home.  I  mustn't  stay  here 
any  longer." 

"Why  not?" 

'  You  know  why  not.     I  must  be  at  home  when 
330 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

he  comes.  You  must  get  some  one  to  take  my  place. 
Aunt  Keziah  will  stay,  of  course,  and  perhaps  Mrs. 
Higgins  would  come,  or  Hannah  Poundberry. 
She- 

"  Not  if  I  know  it.  I'd  as  soon  have  a  hay- 
cutter  running  in  here  as  Hannah's  tongue.  I  could 
stop  a  hay-cutter  when  it  got  too  noisy.  Well,  if  you 
must  go,  you  must,  I  suppose.  But  stay  through  to 
morrow,  at  any  rate.  Nat  won't  get  here  until 
Thursday,  and  I  may  be  able  to  find  another  nurse 
by  that  time.  And  what  I  shall  say  to  him,"  motion 
ing  toward  the  other  room,  "  I  don't  know." 

"  Must  you  say  anything?  Just  say  that  I  have 
been  called  away  for  a  few  days  on — on  some  busi 
ness.  Don't  tell  him.  Don't  tell  him  the  truth, 
doctor,  now.  He  is  too  weak  and  I  am  afraid 

She  stopped  and  turned  away.  The  doctor 
watched  her  pityingly. 

"  Cheer  up,"  he  said.  "  At  any  rate,  this  is  only 
for  a  little  while.  When  the  captain  knows,  if  he's 
the  man  I  take  him  for,  he'll— 

She  whirled  like  a  flash.  "  You're  not  going  to 
tell  him?"  she  cried.  "No,  no!  You  mustn't. 
You  must  promise  me  you  won't.  Promise." 

"  Somebody'll  tell  him.  Telling  things  is  Tru- 
met's  specialty." 

'  Then  you  must  stop  it.  No  one  must  tell  him 
—no  one  except  me.  I  shall  tell  him,  of  course. 
He  must  hear  it  from  me  and  not  from  anyone  else. 
He  would  think  I  was  disloyal  and  ungrateful — and 
I  am !  I  have  been !  But  I  was — I  couldn't  help  it. 

You  know,  doctor,  you  know " 

'  Yes,  yes,  I  know.     Well,  I'll  promise,  but  it 
will  all  come  out  right,  you  see.     You  mustn't  think 

331 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

I — we — have  been  interfering  in  your  affairs,  Grace. 
But  we've  all  come  to  think  a  whole  lot  of  that  par 
son  of  ours  and  what  he  wanted  we  wanted  him  to 
have,  that's  all." 

"  I  know.  Thank  you  very  much  for  all  your 
kindness,  and  for  your  promise." 

He  would  have  liked  to  say  much  more,  but  he 
could  not,  under  the  circumstances.  He  stammered 
a  good-by  and,  with  a  question  concerning  Mrs. 
Coffin's  whereabouts,  went  out  to  join  Captain  Zeb. 

"Well?"  queried  the  latter  anxiously.  "How 
is  it?  What's  up?  What's  the  next  tack?" 

"  We'll  go  to  the  parsonage,"  was  the  gloomy 
answer.  "  If  anybody  can  see  a  glimmer  in  this 
cussed  muddle  Keziah  Coffin  can." 

Keziah  was  on  her  knees  in  her  room,  beside  a 
trunk,  the  same  trunk  she  had  been  packing  the  day 
of  the  minister's  arrival  in  Trumet.  She  was  work 
ing  frantically,  sorting  garments  from  a  pile,  re 
jecting  some  and  keeping  others.  She  heard  voices 
on  the  walk  below  and  went  down  to  admit  the 
callers. 

"What's  the  matter,  Keziah?"  asked  Dr. 
Parker  sharply,  after  a  look  at  her  face.  "  You 
look  as  if  you'd  been  through  the  war.  Humph! 
I  suppose  you've  heard  the  news?  " 

Keziah  brushed  back  the  hair  from  her  forehead. 
'  Yes,"  she  answered  slowly.     "  I've  heard  it." 

'Well,  it's  great  news,  and  if  it  wasn't  for — if 
things  weren't  as  they  are,  I'd  be  crowing  hallelujahs 
this  minute.  Trumet  has  got  a  good  man  safe  and 
sound  again,  and  the  Lord  knows  it  needs  all  of  that 
kind  it  can  get." 

"  Yes." 

332 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

'  Yes.  But  there's  the  other  matter.  I've  been 
to  see  Grace.  She  didn't  say  so,  but  it  was  easy 
enough  to  see;  the  man  she  promised  to  marry  and 
thought  was  dead,  is  alive.  She's  a  girl  of  her  word 
— she  promised  him  and  she  promised  her  dying  uncle 
—and  she'll  marry  him.  And  then  what  will  become 
of  John  Ellery?  He'll  go  downhill  so  fast  that  a 
ship's  anchor  wouldn't  hold  him.  If  he  doesn't  die 
I'll  have  to  send  him  away  somewhere,  and  the 
Regular  church  will  lose  the  minister  we've  fought 
so  hard  for." 

'  Yes,"  concurred  Zebedee,  "  and  them  blasted 
Danielses'll  run  the  shebang  and  the  rest  of  us'll 
have  to  sing  small,  I  tell  you." 

"  So  we've  come  to  you,  Keziah,"  went  on  the 
doctor.  "  Do  you  see  any  salvation?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do." 

"You  do?    Where?" 

"  In  Nat  Hammond.  If  he  knows  Grace  doesn't 
want  to  marry  him,  do  you  suppose  he'll  hold  her  to 
her  promise?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I'm  not  so  sure.  Men  don't 
give  up  girls  like  that  so  easy.  /  wouldn't — by 
George,  I  wouldn't !  And  she  won't  tell  him  the 
whole  truth,  I'm  afraid.  She'll  pretend  to  be  glad- 
hang  it!  she  is  glad — to  have  him  home  again 
and- 

"  Of  course  she's  glad.  Ain't  we  all  glad  and 
happy  and  thankful?  We  ought  to  be.  But  "  — she 
hesitated — "  doctor,  you  leave  this  to  me.  So  far  as 
John  and  Grace  are  concerned  you  needn't  worry. 
I'll  take  it  on  myself  to  see  that  they  have  each  other, 
as  the  Almighty  meant  'em  to.  Leave  it  to  me. 
Just  leave  it  to  me.  I  know  I  can  do  it." 

333 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

She  would  not  say  more,  nor  tell  on  what  grounds 
she  based  her  optimism.  She  would  go  back  to  the 
shanty  that  evening,  she  said,  and  stay  until  the  fol 
lowing  afternoon.  Grace  would  undoubtedly  go  to 
the  old  tavern  to  prepare  for  the  homecoming.  Let 
Mrs.  Higgins  take  her  place  as  nurse. 

"  I  shall  have  to  leave,  myself,"  she  added,  "  for 
a  little  while;  so  perhaps  you'd  better  try  to  get  some 
body  else  to  help  the  Higgins  woman.  Don't  ask 
me  any  questions,  please  don't,  and  be  sure  not  to 
say  a  word  to  anybody — most  of  all  to  Grace.  Just 
do  as  I  tell  you  and  leave  it  to  me.  And  don't  come 
and  see  me  again  until  after — after  he  comes  home. 
Good-by,  doctor.  Good-by,  Cap'n  Zeb." 

She  shook  hands  with  each  of  them,  a  rather 
unusual  proceeding  as  they  thought  of  it  afterwards. 
Then  they  went  away  and  left  her. 

"  Humph!  "  mused  Parker,  as  they  came  out  at 
the  gate.  "Humph!  She  seems  sure,  doesn't  she. 
And  yet  she  doesn't  act  like  herself.  Did  you  notice 
that?" 

'  Yup.  I  noticed  it.  But  I  expect  Nat's  droppin' 
out  of  the  clouds  shook  her  up,  same  as  it  done  the 
rest  of  us.  Well,  never  mind.  She's  a  bully  good, 
capable  woman  and  what  she  says  she'll  do  she 
gen'rally  does.  I'm  bettin'  on  her.  By  time !  I  feel 
better." 

Captain  Elkanah  Daniels  and  his  friends  were 
feeling  better  also,  and  they  were  busy.  Trumet 
had  a  new  hero  now.  On  Wednesday  the  Boston 
papers  printed  excerpts  from  Captain  Hammond's 
story,  and  these  brief  preliminary  accounts  aroused 
the  admiration  of  every  citizen.  It  was  proposed  to 
give  him  a  reception.  Elkanah  was  the  moving  spirit 

334 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

in  the  preparations.  Captain  Nat,  so  they  learned  by 
telegraphing,  would  arrive  on  the  noon  train  Thurs 
day.  His  was  not  to  be  a  prosaic  progress  by  stage 
all  the  way  from  Sandwich.  A  special  carriage, 
drawn  by  the  Daniels  span  and  escorted  by  other 
vehicles,  was  to  meet  the  coach  at  Bayport  and  bring 
him  to  Trumet  in  triumphant  procession.  All  this 
was  to  be  a  surprise,  of  course. 

Wednesday  afternoon  the  Daniels  following  was 
cheered  by  the  tidings  that  Grace  Van  Home  had 
left  the  beach  and  was  at  her  old  home,  the  Ham 
mond  tavern.  And  Mrs.  Poundberry  reported  her 
busy  as  a  bee  "  gettin'  things  ready."  This  was  en 
couraging  and  indicated  that  the  minister  had  been 
thrown  over,  as  he  deserved  to  be,  and  that  Nat 
would  find  his  fiancee  waiting  and  ready  to  fulfill 
her  contract.  ''  Reg'lar  whirligig,  that  girl,"  sniffed 
Didama  Rogers.  "  If  she  can't  have  one  man  she'll 
take  the  next,  and  then  switch  back  soon's  the  wind 
changes.  However,  most  likely  she  never  was  en 
gaged  to  Mr.  Ellery,  anyhow.  He's  been  out  of 
his  head  and  might  have  said  some  fool  things 
that  let  Dr.  Parker  and  the  rest  b'lieve  he  was 
in  love  with  her.  As  for  pickin'  of  him  up  and 
totin'  him  back  to  the  shanty  that  night,  that  wa'n't 
nothin'  but  common  humanity.  She  couldn't  let  him 
die  in  the  middle  of  the  lighthouse  lane,  could 
she?" 

Thursday  was  a  perfect  day,  and  the  reception 
committee  was  on  hand  and  waiting  in  front  of  the 
Bayport  post  office.  The  special  carriage,  the  span 
brushed  and  curried  until  their  coats  glistened  in  the 
sunshine,  was  drawn  up  beside  the  platform.  The 
horses  had  little  flags  fastened  to  their  bridles,  and 

335 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

there  were  other  and  larger  flags  on  each  side  of  the 
dashboard.  Captain  Daniels,  imposing  in  his  Sunday 
raiment,  high-collared  coat,  stock,  silk  hat  and  gold- 
headed  cane,  sat  stiffly  erect  on  the  seat  in  the  rear. 
The  other  carriages  were  alongside,  among  them 
Captain  Zebedee  Mayo's  ancient  chaise,  the  white 
horse  sound  asleep  between  the  shafts.  Captain  Zeb 
had  not  been  invited  to  join  the  escort,  but  had  joined 
it  without  an  invitation. 

"  I  guess  likely  I'd  better  be  on  hand,"  the  cap 
tain  confided  to  Dr.  Parker.  "  Maybe  I  can  stop 
Elkanah  from  talkin'  too  much  about — well,  about 
what  we  don't  want  him  to  talk  about,  and  besides, 
I'm  just  as  anxious  to  give  Nat  a  welcome  home  as 
the  next  feller.  He's  a  brick  and  we're  all  proud 
of  him.  By  mighty!  I'd  like  to  have  seen  that 
craft  he  built  out  of  cocoanuts  and  churches — I 
would  so." 

Kyan  Pepper  was  there  also,  not  yet  fully  recov 
ered  from  the  surprise  which  Lavinia's  gracious  per 
mission  had  given  him.  Abishai  had  been  leaning 
disconsolately  over  his  front  gate  early  that  morning 
when  Noah  Ellis,  the  lightkeeper,  jogged  down  the 
lane. 

"  'Mornin',  'Bish,"  hailed  Noah,  pulling  up  his 
horse.  "What's  the  matter?  You  look  bluer'n  a 
spiled  mack'rel.  What's  the  row?  Breakfast  dis 
agree  with  you?  " 

'  Naw,"  replied  Kyan  shortly.  "  Where  you 
bound,  all  rigged  up  in  your  shore  duds?  " 

"  Bound  to  Bayport,  to  see  Nat  Hammond  land," 
was  the  cheerful  answer.  "  I  ain't  had  a  day  off  I 
don't  know  when,  and  I  thought  I'd  take  one.  Be 
great  doin's  over  there,  they  tell  me.  Elkanah's 

336 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

goin'  to  make  a  speech  and  there's  eighteen  teams 
of  folks  goin'." 

"  I  know  it.  I  wisht  I  was  goin',  too,  but  I  never 
have  no  fun.  Have  to  stay  to  home  and  work  and 
slave  over  them  consarned  tax  papers.  Sometimes 
I  wish  there  wa'n't  no  taxes." 

"  Humph !  I've  wished  that,  myself,  more'n 
once.  Why  don't  you  go,  if  you  want  to?  Climb 
right  aboard  here  with  me.  Plenty  of  room." 

"  Hey?  You  mean  that?  By  godfreys  mighty! 
I'd  like  to." 

"  Sartin,  I  mean  it.     Come  ahead." 

Mr.  Pepper  sadly  shook  his  head.  "  I  guess 
likely  I'd  better  not,"  he  sighed.  "  Laviny  might 
not  like  to  have  me  leave  her." 

"Oh,  fiddlesticks!  she  won't  mind.  I'll  take 
care  of  you.  It's  perfectly  safe.  There  ain't  goin' 
to  be  no  women  around.  Haw  !  haw  !  haw  !  " 

He  was  still  laughing  at  his  own  joke  when 
through  the  slats  of  the  closed  blinds  shading  the 
Pepper  house  parlor  a  shrill  voice  was  heard  speak 
ing. 

"  Go  ahead,  'Bishy  dear,"  called  Lavinia.  "  Go 
ahead  and  go.  A  change  of  air'll  do  you  good." 

Kyan  whirled  and  clutched  at  the  gate. 

"Hey?"  he  shouted  in  amazement. 

"Are  you  deef?  Or  is  Mr.  Ellis  laughin'  so 
hard  that  you  can't  hear?  What  is  it  that's  so  funny, 
Mr.  Ellis'?" 

The  light-keeper  shut  off  his  laughter  by  a  sud 
den  and  rather  frightened  gulp. 

"  Oh,  nothin',  nothin',  Miss  Pepper.  Nice  day, 
ain't  it?" 

"  I  guess  so.  I  ain't  had  time  to  look  at  it  yet. 
337 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

/  have  to  work.  I  can't  let  my  wife  do  it  for  me, 
like  some  folks,  and  take  '  days  off.'  What  was  it 
you  was  laughin'  at,  Mr.  Ellis?" 

"  Nothin',  nothin'  at  all." 

"  Hum !  They  used  to  tell  me  there  was  only 
one  kind  of  person  who  laughed  at  nothin'.  Well, 
'Bish  Pepper,  what  are  you  standin'  there  for?  If 
you're  goin',  come  right  into  the  house  and  change 
your  clothes  this  minute." 

Kyan  obeyed.  Shortly  he  reappeared,  clothed 
like  a  lily  of  the  field,  one  that  had  long  since  gone 
to  seed.  He  clambered  up  beside  Noah  and  they 
drove  off. 

"Jerushy!"  exclaimed  the  lightkeeper.  "This 
is  kind  of  unexpected,  ain't  it?  What's  got  into  her 
to  make  her  so  accommodatin'  ?  " 

"Godfreys  mighty!"  was  the  dazed  reply,  "/ 
don't  know.  This  as  fast  as  you  can  drive  ?  Hurry 
up,  afore  she  changes  her  mind." 

So  it  happened  that  Mr.  Pepper  was  in  Bayport 
with  the  rest,  awaiting  the  stage  which  was  bringing 
Trumet's  latest  celebrity  from  Sandwich. 

"  Here  she  comes!  "  shouted  Ezra  Simmons,  the 
postmaster.  "  Right  on  time,  too." 

Sure  enough!  A  cloud  of  dust  in  the  distance, 
rising  on  the  spring  wind,  and  the  rattle  of  rapidly 
turning  wheels.  The  reception  committee  prepared 
for  action.  Captain  Elkanah  descended  from  the 
carriage  and  moved  in  stately  dignity  to  the  front 
of  the  post-office  platform. 

"Hum — ha!"  he  barked,  turning  to  his  fol 
lowers.  "  Be  ready  now.  Give  him  a  good 
cheer,  when  I  say  the  word.  Let  it  be  hearty — 
hearty,  yes." 

338 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

The  stage,  its  four  horses  at  a  trot,  swung  up  to 
the  platform. 

"  Whoa !  "  roared  the  driver. 

"  Now !  "  ordered  Elkanah.  "  One — two — 
Hurrah !  " 

"  Hurrah !  "  shouted  the  committee,  its  uninvited 
guests  and  the  accompanying  crowd  of  Bayport  men 
and  boys  wrhich  had  gathered  to  assist  in  the  welcome. 
"Hurrah!" 

"Hooray!"  yelled  Kyan,  a  little  behind,  as 
usual. 

A  passenger  or  two  peered  from  the  coach  win 
dow.  The  stage  driver  ironically  touched  his  cap. 

"  Thank  ye,"  he  said.  "  Thank  ye  very  much. 
I've  been  hopin'  for  this  for  a  long  time,  though  I'd 
about  given  up  expectin'  it.  I'm  very  much  obliged. 
Won't  somebody  please  ask  me  to  make  a  speech?  " 

Captain  Elkanah  frowned  his  disapproval. 

"  We  are  cheering  Cap'n  Nathaniel  Hammond 
of  Trumet,"  he  explained  haughtily.  "  We  are  here 
to  meet  him  and  escort  him  home." 

The  driver  sighed.  '  You  don't  say,"  he  said. 
"  And  I  thought  my  merits  had  been  recognized 
at  last.  And  'twas  all  for  Cap'n  Hammond?  Dear! 
dear!" 

He  winked  at  Simmons,  who  wanted  to  laugh, 
but  did  not  dare. 

"  Come  !  come  !  "  said  Captain  Elkanah.  "  Where 
is  he?  Where's  Cap'n  Hammond?  " 

"Well,  now,  I'll  tell  ye;  I  don't  know  where 
he  is." 

"  You  don't?     Isn't  he  with  you?  " 

"  No,  he  ain't.  And  he  didn't  come  on  the  train, 
nuther.  He  was  on  it.  The  conductor  told  me  he 

339 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

see  him  and  set  along  with  him  between  stations  as 
fur  as  Cohasset  Narrows.  But  after  that  he  never 
see  hide  nor  hair  of  him.  Oh,  that's  so !  Here's 
the  mail  bag,  Ezry." 

Captain  Elkanah  looked  at  the  reception  commit 
tee  and  it  looked  at  him.  Here  was  a  most  discon 
certing  setback  for  all  the  plans.  The  committee, 
after  asking  more,  and  fruitless  questions,  went  into 
executive  session. 

Captain  Zeb  stepped  beside  the  stage  and  put  one 
foot  on  the  wheel. 

"Say,  Thad,"  he  whispered,  "  is  that  all  you 
know?  Where  did  he  go  to?  " 

"  Can't  tell  you,  cap'n.  The  conductor  says  he 
see  him  afore  they  got  to  Cohasset  Narrows  and  not 
after.  Naturally,  we  s'pose  he  got  off  there.  Pretty 
good  joke  on  old  Daniels,  I  call  it.  Serve  him  right, 
figgerin'  to  take  a  passenger  away  from  me.  He, 
he!" 

"  But  you  do  know  more,  now  don't  you?  Tell 
a  feller — come!  I  don't  like  Elkanah  any  better'n 
you  do." 

''  Well,"  the  driver's  voice  dropped  still  lower. 
11  Well,"  he  whispered,  "  I  did  hear  this  much, 
though  don't  you  tell  none  of  them:  A  chap  I  know 
was  on  the  train  and  he  said  he  see  Cap'n  Nat  get  off 
the  cars  at  the  Cohasset  Narrows  depot  and  there 
was  a  woman  with  him." 

"A  woman?     A  woman?     What  woman?" 

"  Blessed  if  I  know!  And  he  didn't  nuther.  So 
long!  Git  dap!" 

The  reception  committee  and  its  escort  drove 
slowly  back  to  Trumet.  The  Daniels  following  was 
disgusted  and  disappointed  Captain  Elkanah  had 

340 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

figured  upon  keeping  Hammond  under  his  own  wing 
until  he  was  safely  deposited  at  the  old  tavern. 
Grace  was  there  and  Elkanah  meant  that  these  two 
should  meet  before  any  inkling  of  Ellery's  story 
reached  Nat's  ears.  Incidentally,  he  could  drop  a 
few  damaging  hints  concerning  the  minister's  charac 
ter.  To  hurt  Ellery  all  he  could  and  prejudice  Ham 
mond  against  him — that  was  the  plan,  and  now  it 
was  frustrated.  The  captain  had  not  put  in  an  ap 
pearance  and  no  one  knew  where  he  was  or  when  he 
would  come  home.  Obviously,  there  was  nothing  to 
do  except  give  up  the  reception  and  await  further 
news  from  the  missing  man. 

Some  of  those  present  wished  to  remain  in  Bay- 
port  until  night.  Another  train  was  due  in  Sandwich 
and,  possibly,  Nat  might  come  on  that.  They  couid 
telegraph  and  find  out  whether  or  not  he  did 
come,  and  if  he  did,  could  send  a  carriage  for  him. 
But  this  suggestion  was  overruled.  The  reception 
was  off. 

The  homeward  journey  had  some  unpleasant  in 
cidents.  Several  Come-Outers  had  driven  over. 
Nat  belonged  to  them,  so  they  felt — he  was  the  son 
of  their  dead  founder  and  leader — and  they  deter 
mined  the  Regulars  should  not  have  him  all  to  them 
selves.  They  had  come  to  bid  him  welcome  on  be 
half  of  the  worshipers  at  the  chapel.  Now  they  took 
advantage  of  the  general  disappointment  to  make 
sarcastic  and  would  -  be  -  humorous  remarks  loud 
enough  for  the  majestic  occupant  of  the  decorated 
carriage  to  hear. 

"  Seems  to  me,"  said  Thoph  Black,  "  that  them 
flags  ought  to  be  ha'f  mast.  That  craft's  in  distress." 

"  S-sh-h !  "  counciled  his  companion,  another 
34i 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Come-Outer.  "  Don't  be  irreverent.  Look  who's 
cruisin'  under  'em.  That's  the  King  of  Trumet. 
Let's  you  and  me  go  ahead  and  fire  salutes,  Thoph." 

Captain  Elkanah  wrathfully  ordered  the  flags  to 
be  removed  from  the  horses'  heads  and  from  the 
dashboard. 

As  Noah  Ellis  and  his  passenger  turned  into  the 
lighthouse  lane  another  vehicle  turned  out  of  it. 

"Who  was  that?"  queried  Kyan.  "Looked 
like  one  of  the  livery  stable  horses  to  me." 

"  'Twa'n't.  'Twas  Thankful  Payne's  and  that 
was  her  carriage,  too.  It's  gettin'  so  dark  I  couldn't 
see  who  was  drivin'  it,  but  'twas  a  man,  anyhow." 

Kyan  seemed  to  be  pondering.  "  I  wonder,"  he 
said  slowly,  "  I  wonder  if  that  cousin  of  hers  from 
Sandwich  is  here  visitin'.  That  Caleb  Pratt,  seems 
to  me  his  name  is." 

"Don't  know.     Why?" 

"  Nothin',  nothin'.  I  just  wondered,  that  was 
all.  That  might  explain  why  she  let  me 

"Hey?" 

"  Nothin'.  Good  night,  Noah.  I'm  much 
obliged  to  you  for  takin'  me  over,  even  if  there 
wa'n't  no  reception." 

Trumet  spent  that  evening  wondering  what  had 
become  of  Nat  Hammond.  Captain  Zeb  Mayo 
wondered  most  of  all.  Yet  his  wonderment  was  ac 
companied  by  vague  suspicions  of  the  truth.  And, 
at  eleven  o'clock,  when  the  village  was  in  bed, 
a  horse  and  buggy  moved  down  the  Turn-off  and 
stopped  before  the  Hammond  gate.  A  man  alighted 
from  the  buggy  and  walked  briskly  up  to  the 
side  door.  There  he  knocked  and  then  whistled 
shrilly. 

342 


A    RECEPTION    OFF 

A  window  overhead  was  opened. 

"  Who  is  it?  "  asked  a  feminine  voice. 

"  Don't  be  frightened,  Grade,"  replied  the  man 
at  the  door.  "  It's  me — Nat.  I've  come  home 
again." 


24 


CHAPTER    XX 

IN   WHICH    THE    MINISTER    RECEIVES    A    LETTER 

JOHN  ELLERY  was  uneasy.  Physically  he 
was  very  much  better,  so  much  better  that  he 
was  permitted  to  sit  up  a  while  each  day. 
But  mentally  he  was  disturbed  and  excited,  exactly 
the  condition  which  the  doctor  said  he  must  not  be 
in.  Keziah  and  Grace  had  gone  away  and  left  him, 
and  he  could  not  understand  why. 

Mrs.  Higgins,  Ike's  mother,  was  at  the  shanty 
and  she  did  her  best  to  soothe  and  quiet  him.  She 
was  a  kind  soul  and  capable,  in  her  way,  but  she 
could  not  answer  his  questions  satisfactorily. 

"Where  are  they?"  he  demanded.  "Why  did 
they  go?  Has  anything  happened?  When  are  they 
coming  back?  " 

"  I  can't  tell  you  just  when,  Mr.  Ellery,"  replied 
Mrs.  Higgins.  "  Grace  had  to  go  home  for  a — a 
day  or  so  and  Keziah  had  things  to  attend  to  at  the 
parsonage.  Don't  you  fret  yourself  about  them." 

"  I'm  not  fretting,  but  it  does  seem  strange.  I 
could  understand  why  one  should  go,  perhaps,  but 
not  both.  Didn't  Gra—  Miss  Van  Home  tell  you 
why  she  went?  " 

"  Well,  now,  Mr.  Ellery,  don't  let's  worry  about 
Gracie.  She's  a  good  girl  with  lots  of  common  sense 
and " 

344 


A    LETTER 

"  I  know  that.  But  that  doesn't  answer  me. 
Why  did  she  go?" 

"  Keziah  hadn't  been  to  the  parsonage  sence  that 
day  when  you  was  fust  took  sick,  and  I  expect  likely 
she  felt  that  she'd  ought  to— 

"  Please,  Mrs.  Higgins,  tell  me  the  truth.  I'm 
not  asking  about  Mrs.  Coffin.  Didn't  Miss  Van 
Home  tell  you  her  reason  for  leaving?" 

"  No,  she  didn't." 

"But  you  know  the  reason?  You're  keeping 
something  from  me.  Did  she  say  when  she  would 
come  back?  " 

"  No,  not  exactly,  but,  of  course— 

:'  I  know  you're  keeping  something  from  me. 
What  has  happened?  " 

"Happened?  Land  sakes !  does  anything  ever 
happen  in  Trumet?" 

"  I  think  a  good  many  things  have  happened 
lately.  And  the  longer  you  keep  the  truth  from  me 
the  more  I  shall  suspect." 

"  Mr.  Ellery,  you  set  still  in  that  chair,  or,  when 
the  doctor  comes,  he'll  put  you  to  bed.  I've  got  some 
cookin'  to  do  and  I  can't  set  here  gossipin'  no  longer. 
You  behave  yourself  and  stop  frettin'.  I'm  skipper 
here  now — er — for  a  while,  anyhow — and  you've 
got  to  take  orders  from  me.  There !  now  I  cal'late 
you're  scared,  ain't  you?  " 

He  did  not  seem  greatly  frightened,  nor  in  awe 
of  his  new  skipper.  Instead,  he  was  evidently  prepar 
ing  to  ask  more  questions.  Mrs.  Higgins  hurriedly 
fled  to  the  living  room  and  closed  the  door  behind 
her. 

The  minister  heard  her  rattling  pans  and  dishes 
at  a  great  rate.  The  noise  made  him  nervous  and  he 

345 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

wished  she  might  be  more  quiet.  He  moved  to  the 
chair  nearest  the  window  and  looked  out  over  the 
dunes  and  the  wide  stretch  of  tumbling  blue  sea. 
The  surf  was  rolling  up  the  shore,  the  mackerel  gulls 
were  swooping  and  dipping  along  the  strand,  the 
beach  grass  was  waving  in  the  wind.  A  solitary  fish 
boat  was  beating  out  past  the  spar  buoy.  She  was 
almost  over  the  spot  when  the  San  Jose  had  first 
anchored. 

The  view  was  a  familiar  one.  He  had  seen  it  in 
all  weathers,  during  a  storm,  at  morning  when  the 
sun  was  rising,  at  evening  when  the  moon  came  up  to 
tip  the  watery  ridges  with  frosted  silver.  He  had 
liked  it,  tolerated  it,  hated  it,  and  then,  after  she 
came,  loved  it.  He  had  thought  it  the  most  beautiful 
scene  in  all  the  world  and  one  never  to  be  forgotten. 
The  dingy  old  building,  with  its  bare  wooden  walls, 
had  been  first  a  horror,  then  a  prison,  and  at  last  a 
palace  of  contentment.  With  the  two  women,  one  a 
second  mother  to  him,  and  the  other  dearest  of  all 
on  earth,  he  could  have  lived  there  forever.  But  now 
the  old  prison  feeling  was  coming  back.  He  was 
tired  of  the  view  and  of  the  mean  little  room.  He 
felt  lonely  and  deserted  and  despairing. 

His  nerves  were  still  weak  and  it  was  easy,  in  his 
childish  condition,  to  become  despondent.  He  went 
over  the  whole  situation  and  felt  more  and  more  sure 
that  his  hopes  had  been  false  ones  and  that  he  had 
builded  a  fool's  paradise.  After  all,  he  remembered, 
she  had  given  him  no  promise;  she  had  found  him  ill 
and  delirious  and  had  brought  him  there.  She  had 
been  kind  and  thoughtful  and  gracious,  but  that  she 
would  be  to  anyone,  it  was  her  nature.  And  he  had 
been  content,  weak  as  he  was,  to  have  her  near  him, 

346 


A    LETTER 

where  he  would  see  her  and  hear  her  speak.  Her 
mere  presence  was  so  wonderful  that  he  had  been 
satisfied  with  that  and  had  not  asked  for  more.  And 
now  she  had  gone.  Mrs.  Higgins  had  said  "  for  a 
day  or  two,"  but  that  was  indefinite,  and  she  had  not 
said  she  would  return  when  those  two  days  had 
passed.  He  was  better  now,  almost  well.  Would 
she  come  back  to  him?  After  all,  conditions  in  the 
village  had  not  changed.  He  was  still  pastor  of  the 
Regular  church  and  she  was  a  Come-Outer.  The 
man  she  had  promised  to  marry  was  dead — yes.  But 
the  other  conditions  were  the  same.  And  Mrs.  Hig 
gins  had  refused  to  tell  him  the  whole  truth;  he  was 
certain  of  that.  She  had  run  away  when  he  ques 
tioned  her. 

He  rose  from  the  chair  and  started  toward  the 
living  room.  He  would  not  be  put  off  again.  He 
would  be  answered.  His  hand  was  on  the  latch  of 
the  door  when  that  door  was  opened.  Dr.  Parker 
came  in. 

The  doctor  was  smiling  broadly.  His  ruddy  face 
was  actually  beaming.  He  held  out  his  hand,  seized 
the  minister's,  and  shook  it. 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Ellery,"  he  said.  "  It's  a 
glorious  day.  Yes,  sir,  a  bully  day.  Hey?  isn't  it?  " 

Ellery's  answer  was  a  question. 

"  Doctor,"  he  said,  "  why  have  Mrs.  Coffin  and 
— and  Miss  Van  Home  gone?  Has  anything  hap 
pened?  I  know  something  has,  and  you  must  tell 
me  what.  Don't  try  to  put  me  off  or  give  me 
evasive  answers.  I  want  to  know  why  they  have 
gone." 

Parker  looked  at  him  keenly.  "Humph!"  he 
grunted.  "  I'll  have  to  get  into  Mrs.  Higgins's  wig. 

347 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

I  told  her  not  to  let  you  worry,  and  you  have  wor 
ried.     You're  all  of  a  shake." 

"  Never  mind  that.     I  asked  you  a  question." 

"  I  know  you  did.  Now,  Mr.  Ellery,  I'm  disap 
pointed  in  you.  I  thought  you  were  a  sensible  man 
who  would  take  care  of  his  health,  now  that  he'd  got 
the  most  of  it  back  again.  I've  got  news  for  you— 
good  news — but  I'm  not  sure  that  I  shall  tell  it  to 
you." 

"Good  news!  Dr.  Parker,  if  you've  got  news 
for  me  that  is  good,  for  Heaven's  sake  tell  it.  I've 
been  imagining  everything  bad  that  could  possibly 
happen.  Tell  me,  quick.  My  health  can  stand 
that." 

'  Ye-es,  yes,  I  guess  it  can.  They  say  joy  doesn't 
kill,  and  that's  one  of  the  few  medical  proverbs  made 
by  unmedical  men  that  are  true.  You  come  with  me 
and  sit  down  in  that  chair.  Yes,  you  will.  Sit 
down." 

He  led  his  patient  back  to  the  chair  by  the  win 
dow  and  forced  him  into  it. 

"  There!  "  he  said.  "  Now,  Mr.  Ellery,  if  you 
think  you  are  a  man,  a  sensible  man,  who  won't  go  to 
pieces  like  a  ten-year-old  youngster,  I'll — I'll  let  you 
sit  here  for  a  while." 

"Doctor?" 

'  You  sit  still.  No,  I'm  not  going  to  tell  you 
anything.  You  sit  where  you  are  and  maybe  the 
news'll  come  to  you.  If  you  move  it  won't.  Going 
to  obey  orders?  Good!  I'll  see  you  by  and  by,  Mr. 
Ellery." 

He  walked  out  of  the  room.  It  seemed  to  El 
lery  that  he  sat  in  that  chair  for  ten  thousand  years 
before  the  door  again  opened.  And  then— 

348 


A    LETTER 

"  Grace  !  "  he  cried.  "  O  Grace  !  you — you've 
come  back." 

She  was  blushing  red,  her  face  was  radiant  with 

quiet  happiness,  but  her  eyes  were  moist.    She  crossed 

the  room,  bent  over  and  kissed  him  on  the  forehead. 

'  Yes,  John,"  she  said;  "  I've  come  back.     Yes, 

dear,  I've  come  back  to — to  you." 

Outside  the  shanty,  on  the  side  farthest  from  the 
light  and  its  group  of  buildings,  the  doctor  and  Cap 
tain  Nat  Hammond  were  talking  with  Mrs.  Higgins. 
The  latter  was  wildly  excited  and  bubbling  with  joy. 

"  It's  splendid !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  It's  almost 
too  fine  to  believe.  Now  we'll  keep  our  minister, 
won't  we?  " 

"  I  don't  see  why  not,"  observed  the  doctor,  with 
quiet  satisfaction.  "  Zeb  and  I  had  the  Daniels 
crowd  licked  to  a  shoestring  and  now  they'll  stay 
licked.  The  parish  committee  is  three  to  one  for 
Mr.  Ellery  and  the  congregation  more  than  that. 
Keep  him  ?  You  bet  we'll  keep  him  !  And  I'll  dance 
at  his  wedding — that  is,  unless  he's  got  religious 
scruples  against  it." 

Mrs.  Higgins  turned  to  Captain  Nat. 

"  It's  kind  of  hard  for  you,  Nat,"  she  said. 
"  But  it's  awful  noble  and  self-sacrificin'  and  every- 
body'll  say  so.  Of  course  there  wouldn't  be  much 
satisfaction  in  havin'  a  wife  you  knew  cared  more  for 
another  man.  But  still  it's  awful  noble  of  you  to 
give  her  up." 

The  captain  looked  at  the  doctor  and  laughed 
quietly. 

"  Don't  let  my  nobility  weigh  on  your  mind, 
Mrs.  Higgins,"  he  said.  "  I'd  made  up  my  mind  to 

349 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

do  this  very  thing  afore  ever  I  got  back  to  Trumet. 
That  is,  if  Gracie  was  willin'.  And  when  I  found 
she  was  not  only  willin'  but  joyful,  I — well,  I  decided 
to  offer  up  the  sacrifice  right  off." 

"  You  did?  You  did?  Why,  how  you  talk!  I 
never  heard  of  such  a  thing  in  my  born  days.  " 

"  Nor  I  neither,  not  exactly.  But  there !  "  with  a 
wink  at  Parker,  "  you  see  I've  been  off  amongst  all 
them  Kanaka  women  and  how  do  you  know  but  I've 
fell  in  love?" 

"  Nat  Hammond!  " 

"  Oh,  well,  I—    What  is  it,  Grace?  " 

She  was  standing  in  the  doorway  and  beckoning 
to  him.  *  Her  cheeks  were  crimson,  the  breeze  was 
tossing  her  hair  about  her  forehead,  and  she  made  a 
picture  that  even  the  practical,  unromantic  doctor  ap 
preciated. 

"By  George,  Nat!"  he  muttered,  "you've  got 
more  courage  than  I  have.  If  'twas  my  job  to 
give  her  up  to  somebody  else  I'd  think  twice,  I'll 
bet." 

The  captain  went  to  meet  her. 

"What  is  it?"  he  asked. 

"Nat,"  she  whispered,  "will  you  come  in?  He 
wants  to  see  you." 

John  Ellery  was  still  seated  in  the  chair  by  the 
window,  but  he  no  longer  looked  like  an  invalid. 
There  was  no  worry  or  care  in  his  countenance  now, 
merely  a  wondrous  joy  and  serene  happiness. 

He  held  out  his  hands  and  the  captain  shook 
them  heartily. 

"  Mr.  Ellery,"  he  said,  "  as  they  used  to  say  at 
the  circus,  '  Here  we  are  again.'  And  you  and  I 
have  been  doing  all  kinds  of  circus  acrobatics  since 

35° 


A    LETTER 

we  shook  last,  hey?     I'm  glad  you're  pretty  nigh  out 
of  the  sick  bay — and  the  doctor  says  you  are." 

"  Captain,"  began  Ellery.  Hammond  inter 
rupted  him. 

"  Hold  on!  "  he  said.  "  Belay  right  there.  If 
you  and  I  are  to  cruise  in  the  same  family — and 
that's  what  I  hear  is  likely  to  happen — I  cal'late  we'll 
heave  overboard  the  cap'ns  and  Misters.  My  name's 
'  Nathaniel '— '  Nat '  for  short." 

"  All  right.  And  mine  is  '  John.'  Captain- 
Nat,  I  mean — how  can  I  ever  thank  you?  " 

"  Thank  me?  What  do  you  want  to  thank  me 
for?  I  only  handed  over  somethin'  that  wasn't  mine 
in  the  first  place  and  belonged  to  you  all  along.  I 
didn't  know  it,  that  was  the  only  trouble." 

"  But  your  promise  to  your  father.     I  feel— 

"  You  needn't.  I  told  dad  that  it  was  just  as 
Grace  said.  She  says  she's  got  a  better  man,  or  words 
to  that  effect.  And — I  don't  know  how  you  feel  about 
such  things,  John — but  I  b'lieve  there's  a  broader 
outlook  up  aloft  than  there  is  down  here  and  that 
dad  would  want  me  to  do  just  what  I  have  done. 
Don't  worry  about  me.  I'm  doin'  the  right  thing  and 
I  know  it.  And  don't  pity  me,  neither.  I  made  up 
my  mind  not  to  marry  Grace — unless,  of  course,  she 
was  set  on  it — months  ago.  I'm  tickled  to  death  to 
know  she's  goin'  to  have  as  good  a  man  as  you  are. 
She'll  tell  you  so.  Grace  !  Hello !  she's  gone." 

"  Yes.  I  told  her  I  wanted  to  talk  with  you 
alone,  for  a  few  minutes.  Nat,  Grace  tells  me  that 
Aunt  Keziah  was  the  one  who — 

"  She  was.  She  met  me  at  the  Cohasset  Narrows 
depot.  I  was  settin'  in  the  car,  lookin'  out  of  the 
window  at  the  sand  and  sniffin'  the  Cape  air.  By  the 

351 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

everlastin' !  there  ain't  any  air  or  sand  like  'em  any 
wheres  else.  I  feel  as  if  I  never  wanted  to  see  a  palm 
tree  again  as  long  as  I  live.  I'd  swap  the  whole  of 
the  South  Pacific  for  one  Trumet  sandhill  with  a 
huckleberry  bush  on  it.  Well,  as  I  started  to  say,  I 
was  settin'  there  lookin'  out  of  the  window  when 
somebody  tapped  me  on  the  shoulder.  I  looked  up 
and  'twas  her. 

1  You  could  have  blown  me  over  with  a  fan.  By 
the  jumpin'  Moses,  you  could!  You  see,  I'd  been 
thinkin'  about  her — that  is,  I  was — 

He  hesitated,  turned  red,  coughed,  and  went  on. 

"  I  was  surprised  enough  to  see  her,  I  tell  you. 
Way  up  there  at  the  Narrows !  I  couldn't  have  said 
a  word,  anyway,  and  she  never  gave  me  a  chance. 
'  Nat,'  she  says,  '  don't  talk  now.  Come  with  me, 
quick,  afore  the  train  starts.' 

"  Still  I  didn't  say  anything,  nothin'  sane  any 
how.  '  Keziah !  '  I  managed  to  stutter.  '  Keziahf  ' 
'  Come !  '  says  she.  '  Hurry !  I  want  you  to 
get  off  here.  I've  come  here  on  purpose  to  meet  you. 
I  must  talk  with  you ;  it's  important.  You  can  go  to 
Trumet  on  the  next  train,  to-night.  But  now  I  must 
talk  with  you.  I  must.  Won't  you  please  come, 
Nat?' 

"  Well,  I  went.  The  engine  bell  was  beginnin' 
to  ring  and  we  had  to  move  lively,  I  tell  you.  I 
swung  her  off  the  step  just  as  the  car  begun  to  move. 
After  the  smoke  had  faded  away  around  the  next 
bend  I  realized  that  my  hat  had  faded  away  along 
with  it.  Yes,  sir!  I'd  left  it  on  the  seat.  Ha! 
ha!  ha!" 

He  laughed  uproariously.  Ellery  laughed  in 
sympathy. 

352 


A   LETTER 

"  However,  I  wa'n't  worryin'  about  hats,  just 
then.  All  I  wanted  to  do  was  stand  still,  like  a 
frozen  image,  and  stare  at  her.  You  see,  John,  I 
hadn't  laid  eyes  on  a  friend,  one  of  the  real  home 
made  kind,  for  more  days  than  I  wanted  to  count; 
and  here  was  one  of  'em,  one  of  the  best,  passed  out 
to  me  unexpected  and  ahead  of  time,  like  a  surprise 
party  present.  So  I  just  pumped  her  hand  up  and 
down  and  stared.  I  didn't  have  any  exclusive  mort 
gage  on  the  starin'  by  no  means,  for  the  depot  mas 
ter  and  a  dozen  or  so  loafers  was  lookin'  at  us  with 
their  mouths  wide  open. 

"  I  guess  she  noticed  it,  for  she  says,  '  Don't  stay 
here,  Nat.  Come  in  the  waitin'  room  or  somewheres 
where  we  can  talk.' 

"  So  into  the  waitin'  room  we  went  and  come  to 
anchor  on  the  settee.  Six  or  eight  of  the  loafers  set 
tled  themselves  handy  to  the  door,  so's  they  could 
peek  in  occasionally.  I  remember  I  told  one  of  them 
not  to  stretch  his  neck  that  way  'cause  he  might  never 
get  it  back  into  shape  again  and  in  the  gunnin'  season 
that  would  be  dangerous.  '  Some  nearsighted  feller 
might  take  you  for  a  goose,'  I  says.  Ho !  ho ! 

"  And  then,  John,  we  had  our  talk.  Seems  she 
left  Trumet  Wednesday  afternoon.  Got  the  livery 
stable  man  to  drive  her  as  fur  as  Bayport,  hired  an 
other  team  there  and  come  on  to  Sandwich.  Stayed 
overnight  there  and  took  the  mornin'  train  which  got 
to  Cohasset  Narrows  just  ahead  of  the  one  I  was 
comin'  on.  She'd  been  so  afraid  of  bein'  late,  she 
said.  She  must  see  me  afore  I  got  to  Trumet. 

"  Well,  she  saw  me  and  told  me  the  whole  yarn 
about  you  and  Grace.  She  tried  to  break  it  to  me 
gently,  so  I  wouldn't  feel  too  bad.  She  knew  it 

353 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

would  be  a  shock  to  me,  she  said.  It  was  a  shock,  in 
a  way,  but  as  for  feelin'  bad,  I  didn't.  I  think  the 
world  of  Grace.  I'd  do  anything  she  wanted  me  to 
do;  but  most  the  way  down  on  the  train — yes,  and 
long  afore  that — I'd  been  dreadin'  my  comin'  home 
on  one  account.  I  dreaded  tellin'  her  that,  unless 
she  was  real  set  on  it,  she'd  better  not  marry  me. 

"  You  see,  John,  I've  thought  a  lot  sence  I've 
been  away.  Had  consider'ble  time  to  do  it  in.  And 
the  more  I  thought  the  less  that  promise  to  dad 
seemed  right.  I'd  have  bet  my  sou-wester  Gracie 
never  cared  for  me  in  the  way  a  girl  ought  to  care  for 
a  chap  she's  goin'  to  ship  as  pilot  for  the  rest  of  her 
days.  And,  as  for  me — well,  I — I  had  my  reasons 
for  not  wantin'  to  marry  her." 

He  paused  again,  sighed,  started  to  speak,  and 
then  sat  silent,  looking  out  of  the  window.  Ellery 
laid  a  hand  on  his  knee. 

"  Nat,"  said  the  minister,  "  you  saved  my  life 
once,  do  you  remember  that?  I  do,  if  you  don't." 

"  Saved  your  life?  What  are  you  talkin'  about? 
Oh!  that  time  on  the  flats?  That  wasn't  savin'  your 
life,  'twas  savin'  your  clothes  from  gettin'  a  wettin'." 

"  No,  it  was  more  than  that.  And  now  I  guess 
you've  saved  it  again,  you  and  Grace  between  you. 
Yes,  and  Aunt  Keziah.  Bless  her !  to  think  of  her 
going  way  up  there  to  meet  you  and  help  us !  " 

'Yes.  'Twas  like  her,  wasn't  it?  She  said  she 
knew  I'd  hear  the  yarn  when  I  got  to  Trumet,  but 
she  wanted  me  to  hear  it  just  as  it  was,  and  nobody 
but  she  and  Grace  and  you  knew  the  whole  truth 
about  it.  So  she  come.  I'm  glad  she  did;  not  that  I 
shouldn't  have  done  the  same,  whoever  told  me, 
but- 

354 


A    LETTER 

"  Nat,  I  want  to  tell  you  something.  Something 
that  only  one  other  person  knows.  Grace  doesn't 
know  it  yet.  Neither  does  Aunt  Keziah — the  whole 
of  it.  And  if  she  knew  I  told  you  even  a  part  I'm 
afraid  she  would,  as  she  would  say,  '  skin  me  alive.' 
But  I  owe  her — and  you — more  than  I  could  repay 
if  I  lived  a  thousand  years.  So  I'm  going  to  tell  and 
take  the  consequences." 

The  captain  looked  at  him.  '  Well !  "  he  ex 
claimed.  ''What's  comin'  now?  More  secrets? 
Blessed  if  this  ain't  gettin'  more  excitin'  than  the 
South  Seas.  I  used  to  think  excitement  in  Trumet 
was  scurcer  than  cream  in  poorhouse  coffee,  but  I'll 
have  to  change  my  mind." 

"  Nat,    when — that    morning    after   your    father 
died    and    after   you    and    Grace    had    agreed    to — 
to- 

'  To  do  somethin'  neither  of  us  wanted  to  do? 
Yes,  I  know.  Go  ahead." 

'  That  morning  Aunt  Keziah  came  home  to  the 
parsonage  and  broke  the  news  to  me.  She  did  it  as 
only  she  could  do  such  a  thing,  kindly  and  pityingly 
and— 

"  Of  course.  That's  Keziah." 
'  Yes.  Well,  as  you  can  imagine,  I  was  almost 
crazy.  I  made  a  fool  of  myself,  I  expect;  refused  to 
believe  her,  behaved  disgracefully,  and  at  last,  when 
I  had  to  believe  it,  threatened  to  run  away  and  leave 
my  work  and  Trumet  forever,  like  a  coward.  She 
made  me  stay." 

"Did,  hey?" 

'  Yes.  She  showed  me  it  was  my  duty  to  face 
the  music.  When  I  whimpered  about  my  troubles 
she  told  me  her  own  story.  Then  I  learned  what 

355 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

trouble  was  and  what  pluck  was,  too.  She  told  me 
about  her  marriage  and — excuse  me  for  speaking  of 
what  isn't  my  business;  yet  it  is  mine,  in  a  way — she 
told  me  about  you." 

Captain  Hammond  did  not  answer.  His  good- 
natured  face  clouded  and  he  shifted  in  his  chair. 

"  She  told  me  of  you,  Nat,  all  about  you — and 
herself.  And  she  told  me  something  else,  which  ex 
plains  why  she  felt  she  must  send  you  away,  why  she 
thought  your  marriage  to  Grace  would  be  a  good 
thing." 

"  I  know.  She  told  you  that  that  darn  scamp 
Anse  Coffin  was  alive." 

The  minister  started  violently.  He  gasped  in 
surprise. 

'You  knew  it?     You  kneiv  it?"  he  stammered. 

"  I  know  it  now.  Have  known  it  for  over  a  year. 
My  findin'  it  out  was  one  of  the  special  Providences 
that's  been  helpin'  along  this  last  voyage  of  mine. 
My  second  mate  was  a  Hyannis  man,  name  of  Ca- 
hoon.  One  day,  on  that  pesky  island,  when  we  was 
eatin'  dinner  together,  he  says  to  me,  '  Cap'n,'  he 
says,  '  you're  from  Trumet,  ain't  you  ?  '  I  owned  up. 
'Know  anybody  named  Coffin  there?'  says  he.  I 
owned  up  to  that,  too.  '  Well,'  he  says,  '  I  met  her 
husband  last  trip  I  was  in  the  Glory  of  the  Wave?  I 
stared  at  him.  '  Met  his  ghost,  you  mean,'  I  says. 
'  He's  been  dead  for  years,  and  a  good  thing,  too. 
Fell  overboard  and,  not  bein'  used  to  water,  it  killed 
him.' 

"  But  he  wouldn't  have  it  so.  '  I  used  to  know 
Anse  Coffin  in  New  Bedford,'  he  says.  '  Knew  him 
well's  I  know  you.  And  when  we  was  in  port  at 
Havre  I  dropped  in  at  a  gin  mill  down  by  the  water 

356 


A    LETTER 

front  and  he  come  up  and  touched  me  on  the  arm.  I 
thought  same  as  you,  that  he  was  'dead,  but  he  wa'n't. 
He  was  three  sheets  in  the  wind  and  a  reg'lar  dock 
rat  to  look  at,  but  'twas  him  sure  enough.  We  had 
a  long  talk.  He  said  he  was  comin'  back  to  Trumet 
some  day.  Had  a  wife  there,  he  said.  I  told  him, 
sarcastic,  that  she'd  be  glad  to  see  him.  He  laughed 
and  said  maybe  not,  but  that  she  knew  he  was  alive 
and  sent  him  money  when  he  was  hard  up.  Wanted 
me  to  promise  not  to  tell  any  Cape  folks  that  I'd 
seen  him,  and  I  ain't  till  now.' 

"  Well,  you  can  imagine  how  I  felt  when  Cahoon 
spun  me  that  yarn.  First  I  wouldn't  b'lieve  it  and 
then  I  did.  It  explained  things,  just  as  you  say, 
John.  I  could  see  now  why  Keziah  gave  me  my 
walkin'  papers.  I  could  see  how  she'd  been  sacrificin' 
her  life  for  that  scum." 

'  Yes.  She  wouldn't  divorce  him.  She  said  she 
had  taken  him  for  better  or  worse,  and  must  stand  by 
him.  I  tried  to  show  her  she  was  wrong,  but  it  was 
no  use.  She  did  say  she  would  never  live  with  him 
again." 

"  I  should  say  not.  Live  with  him !  By  the 
everlastin' !  if  he  ever  comes  within  reach  of  my 
hands  then — there's  times  when  good  honest  murder 
is  justifiable  and  righteous,  and  it'll  be  done.  It'll  be 
done,  you  hear  me  !  " 

He  looked  as  if  he  meant  it.  Ellery  asked  an 
other  question. 

"  Did  you  tell  her — Aunt  Keziah — when  you 
met  her  at  the  Narrows?  "  he  asked. 

"  No.  But  I  shall  tell  her  when  I  see  her  again. 
She  shan't  spoil  her  life — a  woman  like  that!  by  the 
Lord !  what  a  woman ! — for  any  such  crazy  notion. 

357 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

I  swore  it  when  I  heard  the  story  and  I've  sworn  it 
every  day  since.  That's  what  settled  my  mind  about 
Grace.  Keziah  Coffin  belongs  to  me.  She  always 
has  belonged  to  me,  even  though  my  own  pig-headed- 
ness  lost  her  in  the  old  days." 

"  She  cares  for  you,  Nat.  I  know  that.  She  as 
much  as  told  me  so." 

"  Thank  you,  John.  Thank  you.  Well,  I  can 
wait  now.  I  can  wait,  for  I've  got  something  sure  to 
wait  for.  I  tell  you,  Ellery,  I  ain't  a  church-goin' 
man — not  as  dad  was,  anyway — but  I  truly  believe 
that  this  thing  is  goin'  to  come  out  right.  God  won't 
let  that  cussed  rascal  live  much  longer.  He  won't! 
I  know  it.  But  if  he  does,  if  he  lives  a  thousand 
years,  I'll  take  her  from  him." 

He  was  pacing  the  floor  now,  his  face  set  like 
granite.  Ellery  rose,  his  own  face  beaming.  Here 
was  his  chance.  At  last  he  could  pay  to  this  man 
and  Keziah  a  part  of  the  debt  he  owed. 

Nat  stopped  in  his  stride.  "Well!"  he  ex 
claimed.  "  I  almost  forgot,  after  all.  Keziah  sent  a 
note  to  you.  I've  got  it  in  my  pocket.  She  gave  it 
to  me  when  she  left  me  at  Cohasset." 

"Left  you?  Why!  didn't  she  come  back  with 
you  on  the  night  train?" 

"  No.  That's  funny,  too,  and  I  don't  under 
stand  it  yet.  We  was  together  all  the  afternoon.  I 
was  feelin'  so  good  at  seein'  her  that  I  took  her  under 
my  wing  and  we  cruised  all  over  that  town  together. 
Got  dinner  at  the  tavern  and  she  went  with  me  to 
buy  myself  a  new  hat,  and  all  that.  At  first  she 
didn't  seem  to  want  to,  but  then,  after  I'd  coaxed  a 
while,  she  did.  She  was  lookin'  pretty  sad  and  worn 
out,  when  I  first  met  her,  I  thought;  but  she  seemed 

358 


A    LETTER 

to  get  over  it  and  we  had  a  fine  time.  It  reminded  me 
of  the  days  when  I  used  to  get  home  from  a  voyage 
and  we  were  together.  Then,  when  'twas  time  for 
the  night  train  we  went  down  to  the  depot.  She  gave 
me  this  note  and  told  me  to  hand  it  to  you  to-day. 

"  '  Good-by,  Nat,'  she  says.  '  We've  had  a  nice 
day,  haven't  we?  ' 

"  '  We  have,  for  a  fact,'  I  says.  '  But  what  are 
you  sayin'  good-by  for?  ' 

"  '  Because  I'm  not  goin'  to  Trumet  with  you,' 
says  she.  '  I'm  goin'  to  the  city.  I've  got  some  busi 
ness  to  see  to  there.  Good-by.' 

"  I  was  set  back,  with  all  my  canvas  flappin'.  I 
told  her  I'd  go  to  Boston  with  her  and  we'd  come 
home  to  Trumet  together  to-morrow,  that's  to-day. 
But  she  said  no.  I  must  come  here  and  ease  your 
mind  and  Grace's.  I  must  do  it.  So  at  last  I  agreed 
to,  sayin'  I'd  see  her  in  a  little  while.  She  went  on 
the  up  train  and  I  took  the  down  one.  Hired  a  team 
in  Sandwich  and  another  in  Bayport  and  got  to  the 
tavern  about  eleven.  That's  the  yarn.  And  here's 
your  note.  Maybe  it  tells  where  she's  gone  and 
why." 

The  minister  took  the  note  and  tore  open  the  en 
velope.  Within  was  a  single  sheet  of  paper.  He 
read  a  few  lines,  stopped,  and  uttered  an  excla 
mation. 

"  What's  the  matter?  "  asked  the  captain. 

Ellery  did  not  answer.  He  read  the  note  through 
and  then,  without  a  word,  handed  it  to  his  friend. 

The  note  was  as  follows: 

"  DEAR  JOHN: 

"  I  am  going  away,  as  I  told  you  I  would  if  he 
25  359 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

came.  He  is  coming.  Tuesday  I  got  a  letter  from 
him.  It  was  written  at  Kingston,  Jamaica,  almost 
three  months  ago.  I  can't  think  why  I  haven't  got 
it  sooner,  but  suppose  it  was  given  to  some  one,  to 
mail  and  forgotten.  In  it  he  said  he  was  tired  of 
going  to  sea  and  was  coming  home  to  me.  I  had 
money,  he  said,  and  we  could  get  along.  He  had 
shipped  aboard  a  brig  bound  for  Savannah,  and  from 
there  he  was  going  to  try  for  a  berth  on  a  Boston- 
bound  vessel.  So  I  am  going  away  and  not  coming 
back.  I  could  not  stand  the  disgrace  and  I  could  not 
see  him.  You  and  Grace  won't  need  me  any  more 
now.  Don't  worry  about  me.  I  can  always  earn  a 
living  while  I  have  my  strength.  Please  don't  worry. 
If  he  comes  tell  him  I  have  gone  you  do  not  know 
where.  That  will  be  true,  for  you  don't.  I  hope 
you  will  be  very  happy.  I  do  hope  so.  Oh,  John,  you 
don't  know  how  I  hate  to  do  this,  but  I  must.  Don't 
tell  Nat.  He  would  do  something  terrible  to  him 
if  he  came,  and  Nat  knew.  Just  say  I  have  been 
called  away  and  may  be  back  some  time.  Perhaps  I 
may.  Love  to  you  all.  Good-by. 
'  Yours  truly, 

"  KEZIAH  COFFIN." 

The  captain  stared  at  the  note.  Then  he  threw 
it  to  the  floor  and  started  for  the  door.  The  min 
ister  sprang  from  his  chair  and  called  to  him. 

"  Nat,"  he  cried.  "  Nat!  Stop!  where  are  you 
going?" 

Hammond  turned. 

"  Coin'?  "  he  growled.  "  Coin'?  I'm  goin'  to 
find  her,  first  of  all.  Then  I'm  comin'  back  to  wait 
for  him." 

360 


A    LETTER 

"  But  you  won't  have  to  wait.  He'll  never  come. 
He's  dead." 

"Dead?  Dead?  By  the  everlastin' !  this  has 
been  too  much  for  you,  I  ought  to  have  known  it. 
I'll  send  the  doctor  here  right  off.  I  can't  stay  my 
self.  I've  got  to  go.  But — 

"  Listen !  listen  to  me !  Ansel  Coffin  is  dead,  I 
tell  you.  I  know  it.  I  know  all  about  it.  That  was 
what  I  wanted  to  see  you  about.  Did  Keziah  tell 
you  of  the  San  Jose  and  the  sailor  who  died  of  small 
pox  in  this  very  building?  In  that  room  there?  " 

"  Yes.     John,  you- 

"  I'm  not  raving.  It's  the  truth.  That  sailor 
was  Ansel  Coffin.  I  watched  with  him  and  one 
night,  the  night  before  he  died,  he  spoke  Keziah's 
name.  He  spoke  of  New  Bedford  and  of  Trumet 
and  of  her,  over  and  over  again.  I  was  sure  who 
he  was  then,  but  I  called  in  Ebenezer  Capen,  who 
used  to  know  Coffin  in  New  Bedford.  And  he  rec 
ognized  him.  Nat,  as  sure  as  you  and  I  are  here 
this  minute,  Ansel  Coffin,  Aunt  Keziah's  husband,  is 
buried  in  the  Trumet  cemetery." 


CHAPTER    XXI 

IN    WHICH    MR.    STONE    WASHES    HIS    HANDS 

MR.  ABNER  STONE,  of  Stone  &  Barker, 
marine  outfitters  and  ship  chandlers,  with 
a  place  of  business  on  Commercial  Street 
in  Boston,  and  a  bank  account  which  commanded  re 
spect  throughout  the  city,  was  feeling  rather  irritable 
and  out  of  sorts.  Poor  relations  are  always  a  nui 
sance.  They  are  forever  expecting  something,  either 
money — in  Mr.  Stone's  case  this  particular  expecta 
tion  was  usually  fruitless — or  employment  or  influ 
ence  or  something.  Mr.  Stone  was  rich,  he  had  be 
come  so  by  his  own  ability  and  unaided  effort.  He 
was  sure  of  that — often  mentioned  it,  with  more  or 
less  modesty,  in  the  speeches  which  he  delivered  to 
his  Sunday-school  class  and  at  the  dinners  of  various 
societies  to  which  he  belonged.  He  was  a  self-made 
man  and  was  conscious  that  he  had  done  a  good  job. 
Therefore,  being  self-made,  he  saw  no  particular 
reason  why  he  should  aid  in  the  making  of  others. 
If  people  were  poor  they  ought  to  get  over  it.  Pov 
erty  was  a  disease  and  he  was  no  doctor.  He  had 
been  poor  once  himself,  and  no  one  had  helped  him. 
"  I  helped  myself,"  he  was  wont  to  say,  with  pride. 
Some  of  his  rivals  in  business,  repeating  this  remark, 
smiled  and  added  that  he  had  been  "  helping  him 
self  "  ever  since. 

Mr.    Stone    had    "  washed    his    hands  "    of    his 
362 


MR.    STONE    WASHES    HIS    HANDS 

cousin,  Keziah  Coffin,  or  thought  he  had.  After  her 
brother  Solomon  died  she  had  written  to  him,  asking 
him  to  find  her  a  position  of  some  kind  in  Boston. 
"  I  don't  want  money,  I  don't  want  charity,"  wrote 
Keziah.  "  What  I  want  is  work.  Can  you  get  it  for 
me,  Abner?  I  write  to  you  because  father  used  to 
tell  of  what  you  said  to  him  about  gratitude  and  how 
you  would  never  rest  until  you  had  done  something 
in  return  for  what  he  did  for  you." 

Captain  Ben  Hall's  kindness  was  the  one  thing 
Mr.  Stone  forgot  when  he  said  no  one  had  ever 
helped  him.  He  disliked  to  be  reminded  of  it.  It 
was  a  long  while  ago  and  the  captain  was  dead. 
However,  being  reminded,  he  had  called  upon  a 
friend  in  the  tailoring  line  and  had  obtained  for  Ke 
ziah  the  place  of  sewing  woman.  She  decided  to  be 
come  housekeeper  at  the  Trumet  parsonage  and  so 
notified  him.  Then  he  washed  his  hands  of  her. 

But  now  he  was  compelled  to  soil  them  again. 
Keziah  had  appeared  at  his  office,  without  warning, 
and  demanded  that  he  find  her  a  position.  "  De 
manded  "  was  the  proper  word.  Certainly  she  had 
not  begged.  She  seemed  to  feel  that  her  demand 
was  right  and  proper,  and  his  acceding  to  it  the  least 
he  could  do. 

"What  a  fine  place  you've  got  here,  Abner!" 
•she  said,  inspecting  the  office  and  the  store.  "  I  de 
clare  it's  finer  than  the  one  you  had  when  you  first 
went  into  business,  afore  you  failed.  I  wish  father 
could  have  lived  to  see  it.  He'd  have  realized  that 
his  judgment  was  good,  even  though  his  investment 
wasn't." 

Captain  Hall  had  invested  largely  in  that  first 
business,  the  one  which  failed.  Mr.  Stone  changed 

363 


the  subject.  Later  in  the  day  he  again  sought  his 
friend,  the  tailor,  and  Keziah  was  installed  in  the 
loft  of  the  latter's  Washington  Street  shop,  beside 
the  other  women  and  girls  who  sewed  and  sewed 
from  seven  in  the  morning  until  six  at  night.  Mr. 
Stone  had  left  her  there  and  come  away,  feeling  that 
an  unpleasant  matter  was  disposed  of.  He  had 
made  some  inquiries  as  to  where  she  intended  stay 
ing,  even  added  a  half-hearted  invitation  to  dinner 
that  evening  at  his  home.  But  she  declined. 

"  No,  thank  you,  Abner,"  she  said,  "  I'm  goin' 
to  find  a  boardin'  place  and  I'd  just  as  soon  nobody 
knew  where  I  was  stayin',  for  the  present.  And 
there's  one  thing  I  want  to  ask  you :  don't  tell  a  soul 
I  am  here.  Not  a  soul.  If  anyone  should  come 
askin'  for  me,  don't  give  'em  any  satisfaction.  I'll 
tell  you  why  some  day,  perhaps.  I  can't  now." 

This  was  what  troubled  Mr.  Stone  as  he  sat  in 
his  office.  Why  should  this  woman  wish  to  have  her 
whereabouts  kept  a  secret?  There  was  a  reason  for 
this,  of  course.  Was  it  a  respectable  reason,  or  the 
other  kind?  If  the  latter,  his  own  name  might  be 
associated  with  the  scandal.  He  wished,  for  the  fif 
tieth  time,  that  there  were  no  poor  relations. 

A  boy  came  into  the  office.  "  There  is  some  one 
here  to  see  you,  Mr.  Stone,"  he  said. 

"Who  is  it?" 

"  I  don't  know,  sir.  Looks  like  a  seafaring  man, 
a  sea  captain,  I  should  say  —  but  he  won't  give 
his  name.  Says  it's  important  and  nobody  but 
you'll  do." 

"Humph!  All  right.  Tell  him  to  wait.  I'll 
be  out  in  a  minute." 

Sea  captains  and  ship  owners  were  Stone  & 
364 


MR.    STONE   WASHES    HIS    HANDS 

Barker's     best     customers.       The     senior     partner 
emerged  from  the  office  with  a  smile  on  his  face. 

"  Ah!  "  he  said,  extending  his  hand.  "  Glad  to 
see  you,  Captain — er — 

"  Hammond,"  replied  the  visitor.  "  Same  to 
you,  Mr.  Stone." 

"  Fine  weather  for  this  time  of  year." 

"  Fine  enough,  Mr.  Stone." 

"  Well,  Captain  Hammond,  what  can  we  do  for 
you?  Going  to  sail  soon?  " 

"  Not  right  away.  Just  made  port,  less'n  a  week 
ago.  Home  looks  good  to  me,  for  a  spell,  anyhow." 

"So?  Yes,  I  have  no  doubt.  Let  me  see — 
where  is  your  home,  captain?  I  should  remember, 
of  course,  but — 

"  Don't  know  why  you  should.  This  is  my  first 
trip  in  your  latitude,  I  guess.  My  home's  at  Tru- 
met." 

'  Trumet?  "     Mr.  Stone's  tone  changed. 

"  Yes.  Trumet,  down  on  the  Cape.  Ever  been 
there?  We  think  it's  about  as  good  a  place  as 
there  is." 

"  Hu-u-m !  Trumet?  Well,  Captain  Ham 
mond,  you  wished  to  see  me,  I  understand." 

'  Yes.  Fact  is,  Mr.  Stone,  I  want  to  ask  you 
where  I  can  find  Mrs.  Keziah  Coffin.  She's  a  rela 
tion  of  yours,  I  b'lieve,  and  she's  come  to  Boston 
lately.  Only  yesterday  or  the  day  afore.  Can  you 
tell  me  where  she  is?  " 

"  Why  do  you  wish  to  see  her?  " 

"  Oh,  for  reasons,  personal  ones.  She's  a  friend 
of  mine." 

"  I  see.  No,  captain,  I  can't  tell  you  where  she 
is.  Good  morning." 

365 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Captain  Nat  was  greatly  disappointed. 

"  Hold  on  there,  just  a  minute,"  he  begged. 
"  This  is  important,  you  understand,  Mr.  Stone. 
I'm  mighty  anxious  to  find  Kezi — Mrs.  Coffin.  We 
thought,  some  of  her  friends  and  I,  that  most  likely 
you'd  know  where  she  was.  Can't  you  give  us  any 
help  at  all?  Hasn't  she  been  here?  " 

"  Good  morning,  Captain  Hammond.  You  must 
excuse  me,  I'm  busy." 

He  went  into  the  office  and  closed  the  door. 
Captain  Nat  rubbed  his  forehead  desperately.  He 
had  been  almost  sure  that  Abner  Stone  would  put 
him  on  Keziah's  track.  Grace  had  thought  so,  too. 
She  remembered  what  the  housekeeper  had  told  con 
cerning  her  Boston  cousin  and  how  the  latter  had 
found  employment  for  her  when  she  contemplated 
leaving  Trumet,  after  her  brother's  death.  Grace 
believed  that  Keziah  would  go  to  him  at  once. 

Nat  walked  to  the  door  and  stood  there,  trying  to 
think  what  to  do  next.  A  smart  young  person,  wear 
ing  a  conspicuous  suit  of  clothes,  aided  and  abetted 
by  a  vivid  waistcoat  and  a  pair  of  youthful  but  prom 
ising  side  whiskers,  came  briskly  along  the  sidewalk 
and  stopped  in  front  of  him. 

"  Well,  sir?  "  observed  this  person,  with  cheerful 
condescension.  "Anything  I  can  do  for  you?" 

Captain  Nat  turned  his  gaze  upon  the  side  whis 
kers  and  the  waistcoat. 

"Hey?"  he  queried. 

"  I  say,  is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  you  ?  " 

The  captain  shook  his  head.  "  No-o,"  he 
drawled  dryly,  "  I'm  afraid  not,  son.  I  admit  that 
don't  seem  scarcely  possible,  but  I  am  afraid  it's  so." 

"  Looking  for  something  in  our  line,  was  you?  " 
366 


MR.    STONE    WASHES    HIS    HANDS 

"  Well,  I  don't  know.  What  might  be  on  your 
line — clothes?  " 

The  bewhiskered  one  drew  himself  up.  ''  I  am 
connected  with  Stone  &  Barker,"  he  said  sharply. 
"  And,  seeing  you  standing  in  our  doorway,  I  thought 
possibly — 

'  Yes,  yes.  Beg  your  pardon,  I'm  sure.  No,  I 
don't  want  to  buy  anything.  I  come  to  see  Mr. 
Stone  on  a  personal  matter." 

"  He's  busy,  I  suppose." 

"  So  he  says." 

The  young  man  smiled  with  serene  satisfaction. 
"  I'm  not  surprised,"  he  observed  complacently. 
"  We  are  a  busy  house,  Mr — er— 

"  Hammond's  my  name.  Are  you  Mr.  Bar 
ker?" 

"  No-o,  my  name  is  Prince." 

"  So?     Silent  partner  in  the  firm,  hey?" 

"  No-o,  not  exactly.  Mr.  Prince  was  slightly 
embarrassed.  "  No,  I  am  a — a  salesman — at  pres 
ent.  Was  the  matter  you  wished  to  see  Mr.  Stone 
about  a  very  private  one?  " 

"  MiddlinV" 

"  Well,  I  asked  because  Mr.  Stone  is  a  busy  man 
and  we  like  to  save  him  all  the — the — 

'Trouble  you  can,  hey?  That's  nice  of  you, 
you  must  save  him  a  lot,  Mr — er — King,  was  it?  " 

"  No,  Prince." 

"  Sure  and  sartin',  Prince,  of  course.  I  knew 
'twas  connected  with  the  royal  family.  Well,  Mr. 
Prince,  I'm  afraid  even  you  can't  help  me  nor  him 
out  this  time.  I'm  lookin'  up  a  friend  of  mine,  a 
widow  lady  from  down  the  Cape.  She's  a  relation  of 
Mr.  Stone's,  and  she's  come  to  Boston  durin'  the  last 

36? 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

day  or  so.  I  thought  likely  he  might  know  where  she 
was,  that's  all.  That  would  be  a  little  out  of  your 
latitude,  hey?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  Her  name  wasn't  Coffin,  was 
it?" 

Captain  Nat  started.  "  It  certainly  was,"  he  an 
swered  eagerly.  "  How'd  you  know  that?" 

Mr.  Prince's  complacence  was  superb.  "  Oh," 
he  answered  with  condescension,  "  Mr.  Stone  trusts 
me  with  a  good  many  of  his  personal  affairs." 

"  I  should  think  likely  he  would.  But  about 
Mrs.  Coffin?  You  was  goin'  to  say?  " 

"  She  is  with  James  Hallett  &  Co.,  the  tailors, 
on  Washington  Street.  Mr.  Stone  found  a  place  for 
her  there,  I  believe.  I — er — er — superintended  the 
carrying  of  her  valise  and—  What?" 

"  Nothin',  nothin'.  Hum !  Hallett  &  Co.,  tail 
ors?  What  number  Washin'ton  Street  did  you 
say?" 

Mr.  Prince  gave  the  number. 
'  Thank  you  a  lot,"  said  Captain  Nat,  with  fer 
vor.     "  Good-by,  Mr.  Prince.     Hope  the  next  time 
I  come  you'll  be  in  the  firm.     Good  day,  sir." 

"  Good  day.  Nothing  else  I  can  do?  And  you 
won't  wait  for  Mr.  Stone?  Very  good.  Is  there 
any  message  for  him  that  you  would  like  to 
leave?" 

"Hey?"  Nat  had  started  to  go,  but  now  he 
paused  and  turned.  There  was  a  grim  twinkle  in  his 
eye.  "Message?"  he  repeated.  "Why,  ye-es,  I 
don't  know  but  there  is.  You  just  give  Mr.  Stone 
Cap'n  Hammond's  compliments  and  tell  him  I'm 
lookin'  forward  to  interviewin'  him  some  time.  Just 
tell  him  that,  will  you?  " 

368 


MR.    STONE    WASHES    HIS    HANDS 

"  I'll  tell  him.  Glad  to  have  met  you,  Captain 
Hammond." 

The  captain  nodded  solemnly.  "  Say,  Mr. 
King,"  he  said,  "  you  ain't  half  so  glad  as  I  am." 

Mr.  Prince  strutted  into  the  store. 

"Who  was  that  chap  you  were  talking  with?" 
asked  a  fellow-clerk. 

"  Oh,  a  hayseed  who  wanted  to  see  the  old  man. 
Poor  relation,  I  guess.  I  headed  him  off.  Stone  is 
always  telling  us  that  time  is  money,  so  I  saved  both 
of  'em  for  him.  He  ought  to  thank  me.  Wouldn't 
be  surprised  if  I  got  the  raise  I've  been  asking  for." 

Mr.  Prince  did  not  get  the  raise,  nor  the  thanks. 
But  he  was  surprised. 

In  the  workshop  of  Hallett  &  Co.,  Keziah  sat 
sewing  busily.  The  window  near  her  was  closed, 
stuck  fast,  and  through  the  dingy  panes  she  could 
see  only  roofs  and  chimneys.  The  other  women  and 
girls  near  her  chatted  and  laughed,  but  she  was 
silent.  She  did  not  feel  like  talking,  certainly  not 
like  laughing.  The  garment  she  was  at  work  on 
was  a  coat,  a  wedding  coat,  so  the  foreman  had  told 
her,  with  a  smile;  therefore  she  must  be  very  par 
ticular. 

She  wondered  idly  whose  coat  it  might  be  and 
who  its  future  wearer  was  to  marry.  This  reminded 
her  of  the  minister  and  Grace.  They  would  be 
happy  now,  her  talk  with  Nat  had  assured  her  of 
that,  and  they,  too,  would  be  married  one  of  these 
days.  But  she  would  not  attend  the  wedding.  She 
wondered  what  John  had  said  when  he  read  her  note. 
He  and  Grace  would  be  sorry  for  her,  of  course;  but 
there  was  nothing  they  could  do  to  help.  No  one 

369 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

could  help  her,  no  one.  Perhaps  by  this  time  the 
man  she  had  run  away  from  had  reached  Trumet 
and  her  secret  was  known.  How  Didama  and  the 
rest  would  spread  the  tale !  How  Captain  Elkanah 
and  Annabel  would  sneer  and  exult !  They  hated  her 
because  she  was  the  minister's  friend.  And  Nat, 
poor  fellow,  what  would  he  do?  Well,  at  least  he 
would  understand  now. 

The  narrow  stairway  leading  up  to  the  workshop 
ended  in  a  little  boxed-in  room  where  the  finished 
garments  were  hung  to  await  the  final  pressing. 
From  behind  the  closed  door  of  this  room  came  the 
sound  of  voices,  apparently  in  heated  argument. 
One  of  these  voices  was  that  of  Larry,  the  errand 
boy.  Larry  was  speaking  shrilly  and  with  emphasis. 
The  other  voice  was  lower  in  key  and  the  words  were 
inaudible. 

'  No,  sir,  you  can't,"  declared  Larry.  "  You 
can't,  I  tell  you.  The  boss  don't  let  nobody  in  there 
and-  Hold  on!  Hold  on !" 

The  other  voice  made  a  short  but  evidently  ear 
nest  answer.  Larry  again  expostulated.  The  work 
ers  looked  up  from  their  sewing.  The  door  opened 
and  Larry  appeared,  flushed  and  excited. 

"  Where's  Mr.  Upham?  "  he  demanded.  "  Mr. 
Upham !  " 

Upham  was  the  foreman  of  the  workroom.  At 
the  moment  he  was  downstairs  in  conversation  with 
the  head  of  the  house.  A  half  dozen  gave  this  infor 
mation. 

"What's  the  matter?  Who  is  it?"  asked  sev 
eral. 

''  I  don't  know  who  'tis.  It's  a  man  and  he's 
crazy,  I  think.  I  told  him  he  couldn't  come  in  here, 


MR.    STONE   WASHES    HIS    HANDS 

but  he  just  keeps  a'comin'.  He  wants  to  see  some 
body  named  Coffin  and  there  ain't  no  Coffins 
here." 

Keziah  bent  lower  over  the  wedding  coat.  Her 
hand  shook  and  she  dropped  the  needle. 

"  I  told  him  we  didn't  keep  coffins,"  declared 
Larry.  '  This  ain't  no  undertaker's.  Where's  Mr. 
Upham?" 

Keziah's  nearest  neighbor  leaned  toward  her. 

"  I  guess  it's  somebody  to  see  you,"  she  said. 
'  Your  name  is  Coffin,  ain't  it?  " 

"  No,  no.  That  is,  it  can't  be  anybody  to  see  me. 
I  don't  want  to  see  anybody.  Tell  him  so,  whoever 
it  is.  I  can't  see  anybody.  I — Nat!  " 

He  stood  in  the  doorway,  beckoning  to  her. 

"  Keziah,"  he  said,  "  come  here.  I  want  you. 
I'll  tell  you  why  in  a  minute.  Come !  " 

She  hesitated.  In  a  measure  she  was  relieved, 
for  she  had  feared  the  man  at  the  door  might  be  her 
husband.  But  she  was  greatly  agitated  and  troubled. 
Everyone  in  the  place  was  looking  at  her. 

"  Nat,"  she  said,  trying  to  speak  firmly,  "  I  can't 
see  you  now.  I'm  very  busy.  Please  go  away." 

"Come!" 

"  I  can't  come.     Go  away.     Please!  " 

"  Keziah,  I'm  waitin'.  And  I'm  goin'  to  wait  if 
I  stay  here  all  night.  Come !  " 

She  obeyed  then.  She  could  not  have  a  scene 
there,  before  all  those  strangers.  She  stepped  past 
him  into  the  little  room.  He  followed  and  closed  the 
door. 

"  Nat,"  she  said,  turning  to  him,  "  why  did  you 
come?  How  could  you  be  so  cruel?  I— 

He  interrupted  her,  but  not  with  words.     The 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

next  moment  his  arms  were  about  her  and  she  was 
pressed  tight  against  the  breast  of  his  blue  jacket. 

"  Keziah,"  he  whispered,  "  I've  come  to  take 
you  home.  Home  for  good.  No,  stay  where  you 
are  and  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it.  Praise  be  to  God! 
we're  off  the  rocks  at  last.  All  that's  left  is  to  tow 
you  into  port,  and,  by  the  everlastin',  that's  what  I'm 
here  for!" 

When  Upham  came  up  the  stairs  after  his  long 
interview  with  "  the  boss,"  he  found  the  door  at  the 
top  closed.  When  he  rattled  the  latch  that  door  was 
opened  by  a  stranger. 

"Are  you  Mr.  Hallett?"  asked  Captain  Nat 
briskly. 

"  No,  I'm  not.  Mr.  Hallett  is  in  his  office  on 
the  first  floor.  But  what— 

"On  the  main  deck,  hey?  Well,  all  right;  we 
won't  trouble  him.  You'll  do  just  as  well;  I  judge 
you're  one  of  the  mates  of  this  craft.  You  tell  Mr. 
Hallett  that  this  lady  here  has  decided  not  to  cruise 
with  him  any  longer.  No  fault  to  find,  you  under 
stand,  but  she's  got  a  better  berth.  She's  goin'  to 
ship  along  with  me.  Ain't  that  so,  Keziah?" 

Keziah,  pale,  trembling,  scarcely  realizing  the 
situation  even  yet,  did  not  speak.  But  Captain  Nat 
Hammond  seemed  to  find  his  answer  in  her  silence. 
A  few  minutes  later,  her  arm  in  his,  they  descended 
the  gloomy,  dusty  stairs,  and  emerged  into  the  sun 
shine  together. 

That  afternoon  Mr.  Abner  Stone  again  "  washed 
his  hands  "  of  his  poor  relation — this  time,  as  he  in 
dignantly  declared,  "  for  good  and  all." 


CHAPTER    XXII 

IN  WHICH  KEZIAH'S  PARSON  PREACHES  ONCE  MORE 

TIME  has  wrought  many  changes  in  Trumet. 
The  packet  long  since  ceased  to  ply  be 
tween  the  village  and  Boston,  the  stage 
has  been  superseded  by  the  locomotive,  the  old 
"  square-riggers,"  commanded  by  Cape  Cod  men,  no 
longer  sail  the  seas.  Along  the  main  road  the  houses 
have  changed  hands.  Didama  Rogers  peers  no  more 
from  her  parlor  window;  that  parlor  is  now  pro 
faned  by  the  frivolous  and  irreverent  summer 
boarder.  But  the  old  residents  love  to  talk  of  the 
days  that  are  gone  and  if  you  happen  to  catch  Mr. 
Isaac  Higgins,  now  postmaster  and  a  dignified  mem 
ber  of  the  board  of  selectmen,  in  a  reminiscent  mood 
he  will  very  likely  tell  you  of  the  meeting  of  the  par 
ish  committee  called  by  its  chairman,  Elkanah  Dan 
iels,  to  oust  the  Rev.  John  Ellery  from  the  pulpit  of 
the  Regular  church. 

"  I'll  never  forget,"  says  Mr.  Higgins,  "  that 
parish  committee  meetin'  if  I  live  a  thousand  year. 
I,  and  two  or  three  other  young  shavers,  was  hid  in 
the  little  room  off  the  vestry — the  room  where  they 
kept  the  dishes  they  used  for  church  suppers — and 
we  heard  the  whole  business.  Of  course  nobody 
knew  that  Nat  was  goin'  to  marry  Keziah  then,  but 
they  did  know  that  he  wa'n't  goin'  to  marry  Grace 

373 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

Van  Home,  and  had  given  her  up  to  the  minister  of 
his  own  accord.  So  Daniels's  guns  was  spiked  and 
he  didn't  stand  no  chance  at  all.  However,  you'd 
never  have  guessed  it  to  look  at  him.  He  marched 
into  that  meetin'  and  up  to  the  platform  as  stiff  and 
dignified  as  if  he'd  swallered  a  peck  of  starch.  He 
called  the  meetin'  to  order — 'twas  a  full  one,  for  all 
hands  and  the  cook  was  there — and  then  got  up  to 
speak. 

"  He  opened  fire  right  off.  He  raked  John  El- 
lery  fore  and  aft.  The  parson,  he  said,  had  dis 
graced  the  society  and  his  sacred  profession  and 
should  be  hove  overboard  immediate.  'Twas  an 
open  secret,  he  said.  Everybody  knew  how  he,  min 
ister  of  a  Reg'lar  church,  had  been  carryin'  on  with 
a  Come-Outer  girl,  meetin'  her  unbeknownst  to  any 
one,  and  so  on.  As  he  got  warmed  up  on  this  subject 
he  got  more  bitter  and,  though  he  didn't  come  out 
open  and  say  slanderous  things,  his  hints  was  as  nigh 
that  as  a  pig's  snout  is  to  his  squeal.  Even  through 
the  crack  of  the  dish-closet  door  I  could  see  the  bris 
tles  risin'  on  the  back  of  Cap'n  Zeb  Mayo's  neck. 

"  At  last  Cap'n  Zeb  couldn't  stand  it  no  longer. 

'  Belay   there !  '   he   sings   out,   jumpin'   to   his 

feet.      '  I   want  to   ask  you   one   question,    Elkanah 

Daniels:   Are  you   tryin'    to    say   somethin'    against 

Grace  Van  Home's  character?  ' 

'  Well,  that  was  a  sort  of  sticker,  in  a  way,  and 
I  cal'late  Daniels  realized  it.  He  '  hum-ha'd  '  and 
barked  a  little  and  then  give  in  that  he  couldn't  swear 
the  Van  Home  person's  character  wa'n't  all  right, 
but— 

'  Couldn't   swear !  '    snorts   Zeb.      '  You   better 
not  try  to,  not  when  the  minister  or  Nat's  around. 

374 


PARSON    PREACHES    ONCE    MORE 

Aw,  belay !  you  want  us  to  fire  John  Ellery  out  of  this 
society — the  best  minister  it  ever  had  or  ever  will 
have — because  he  had  the  sense  to  get  sweet  on  a 
good  clean  girl  and  the  spunk  to  ask  her  to  marry 
him.  And  you're  down  on  her  because  she's  been 
brought  up  in  a  Come-Outer  family — at  least,  that's 
the  reason  you  give  out,  though  some  of  us  have  sus 
picions  'tain't  the  real  one.  Why !  she  risked  what 
she  thought  was  smallpox  to  keep  him  from  dyin' 
that  night  she  picked  him  up,  ravin'  distracted,  in  the 
middle  of  the  lighthouse  lane,  and  if  he  hadn't  mar 
ried  her  after  that  I,  for  one,  would  have  been  willin' 
to  vote  to  give  him  his  walkin'  papers,  Come-Outer 
she  may  have  been,  but,  by  time,  she's  got  religion 
that's  good  enough  for  me  and  I'll  be  proud  to  see 
her  the  wife  of  my  minister.  Don't  let's  have  no 
more  chin  music.  We  know  what  you  want  and  what 
you  called  this  meetin'  for;  now  let's  vote  on  it.' 

'  Three  or  four  sung  out  '  Question  '  and  '  Vote.' 
But  Elkanah  held  up  his  hand. 

"  '  Gentlemen,'  says  he,  '  before  I  ask  for  the 
vote  I  want  to  say  just  one  word.  I've  worshiped  in 
this  meetin'  house  ever  sence  I  was  a  child.  I  was 
christened  in  it;  my  father  worshiped  here  afore  me; 
I've  presided  over  the  meetin's  of  this  body  for  years. 
But  I  tell  you  now  that  if  you  vote  to  keep  that  ras 
cally  hypocrite  in  your  pulpit  I  shall  resign  from  the 
committee  and  from  the  society.  It'll  be  like  cuttin' 
off  my  right  hand,  but  I  shall  do  it.  Are  you  ready 
for  the  vote?  Those  in  favor  of  retaining  the  pres 
ent  minister  of  this  parish  will  rise.  Those  opposed 
will  remain  seated.' 

"  Every  man  on  the  floor  stood  up.  Daniels 
himself  was  the  only  one  that  stayed  settin'  down. 

26  375 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"  '  It  is  a  vote,'  says  he,  white  as  a  sheet,  and  his 
voice  trembling.  '  Gentlemen,  I  bid  you  good  day.' 

"  He  took  up  his  hat  and  cane,  give  one  look 
around  the  vestry,  as  if  he  was  sayin'  good-by  to  it, 
and  marched  down  the  aisle  as  straight  and  starchy 
as  he'd  come  into  it.  Only,  when  he  reached  the 
door,  he  put  up  one  hand  as  if  he  was  steadyin' 
himself.  There  was  precious  few  in  that  vestry 
that  liked  Elkanah  Daniels,  but  I'm  bettin'  high 
there  wa'n't  a  one  who  didn't  feel  sorry  for  him 
then. 

"  'Twas  quiet  as  could  be  for  a  minute  or  so 
after  he'd  gone.  Then  Cap'n  Zeb  draws  a  big  breath 
and  flings  up  his  hand. 

"  '  Shipmates,'  says  he,  '  this  is  the  Almighty's 
house  and  we've  got  to  do  it  quiet,  but  I  propose 
three  whisperin'  cheers  for  the  Rev.  John  Ellery  and 
the  lady  that's  goin'  to  be  his  wife.' 

"  So  they  give  'em — hearty,  too,  if  they  was 
whispered — and  that's  all  there  is  to  that  meetin' 
worth  tellin'  about." 

Captain  Daniels  and  his  daughter  moved  to  Bos 
ton  that  summer.  They  never  came  back  to  Trumet 
to  live.  Annabel  remained  single  until  after  her 
father's  death;  then  she  married  a  man  very  much 
younger  and  poorer  than  she  was.  It  was  remarked 
by  acquaintances  of  the  couple  that  the  difference  in 
age  became  less  and  less  apparent  as  their  married 
life  continued. 

"  Humph !  "  observed  Captain  Zeb,  summing  up 
the  situation,  "  he  started  about  ten  year  astern,  but 
he'll  beat  her  on  the  -run  into  the  cemetery,  now  you 
mark  my  words.  Annabel's  temper's  cal'lated  to 
keep  any  average  chap  drivin'  on  that  course,  bows 

376 


PARSON  PREACHES  ONCE  MORE 

under.     There's  a  three-reef  breeze  blowin'  off  her 
tongue,  day  and  night." 

On  a  Sunday  morning,  a  few  weeks  after  the 
committee  meeting,  the  Regular  church  was  crowded. 
John  Ellery  was  to  preach  his  first  sermon  since  the 
San  Jose  came  ashore.  Every  member  of  the  con 
gregation  was  present.  Even  Mrs.  Prince,  feeble 
but  garrulous,  was  there.  Gaius  Winslow,  having 
delivered  his  brood  of  children  at  the  church  door, 
made  a  special  trip  in  his  carryall  to  fetch  the  old 
lady.  Captain  Zebedee  and  Mrs.  Mayo  beamed 
from  their  pew.  Dr  Parker  and  his  wife  smiled  at 
them  across  the  aisle.  Didama  Rogers's  new  bonnet 
was  a  work  of  art  and  her  neck  threatened  to  twist 
itself  off  as  she  turned  to  see  each  one  who  came  in. 

Lavinia  Pepper  sailed  to  the  front.  She  was 
dressed  in  a  new  black  alpaca  which  rustled  so  very 
much  like  silk  that  nearsighted  people  might  have 
been  deceived  by  it.  With  her  was  a  man,  ap 
parently  suffering  from  strangulation  because  of 
the  height  and  tightness  of  his  collar.  "  It's  Ca 
leb  Pratt,  from  Sandwich,"  whispered  Didama. 
'  Thankful  Payne's  relation,  you  know.  Have  you 
heard  what  folks  are  sayin'?  I  guess  it's  true,  be 
cause —  Look  at  Kyan !  you'd  think  he  was  goin'  to 
his  own  funeral." 

Abishai's  expression  was  not  cheerful,  certainly. 
He  followed  Mr.  Pratt  and  his  sister  to  the  Pepper 
pew  and  subsided  sadly  in  the  corner  next  the  wall. 
Occasionally  he  was  observed  to  wipe  his  forehead 
and  once — it  was  during  the  prayer — he  groaned 
audibly.  Lavinia's  dig  in  the  ribs  prevented  his  re 
peating  the  sound,  but,  judging  by  his  looks,  he  con 
tinued  to  groan  in  spirit. 

377 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

There  was  a  stir  at  the  door.  All  heads  swung 
in  that  direction — all  but  Mr.  Pepper's,  that  is.  The 
minister  and  Grace  were  coming  up  the  aisle  and  be 
hind  them  came  Captain  Nat  Hammond  and  Keziah 
Coffin.  Nat  was  smiling  and  self-possessed.  Never 
before  in  his  life  had  he  entered  the  Regular  meeting 
house  as  a  worshiper,  but  he  seemed  to  be  bearing 
the  ordeal  bravely.  It  was  Grace's  first  visit  to  the 
church,  also,  and  she  was  plainly  embarrassed.  To 
be  stared  at  by  eighty-odd  pairs  of  eyes,  and  to  catch 
whispered  comments  from  the  starers'  tongues,  is 
likely  to  embarrass  one. 

Yet  the  comments  were  all  friendly. 

"  I  declare!  "  whispered  Mrs.  Prince,  "  I  never 
see  her  look  so  pretty  afore.  I  knew  she  was  the 
best  lookin'  girl  in  this  town,  but  I  never  realized  she 
was  such  a  beauty.  Well,  there's  one  thing  sartin'- 
we've  got  the  handsomest  parson  and  parson's  wife 
in  this  county,  by  about  ten  mile  and  four  rows  of 
apple  trees.  And  there's  the  other  bride  that's 
goin'  to  be.  I  never  see  Keziah  look  so  well, 
neither." 

Keziah  did  look  well.  Her  parson  had  emerged 
triumphant  from  his  battle  with  disease  and  adverse 
fate  and  was  more  than  ever  the  idol  of  his  congre 
gation.  He  was  to  marry  the  girl  of  his  choice — and 
hers.  The  housekeeper's  ears  were  still  ringing  with 
the  thanks  of  John  and  Grace.  Both  seemed  to  feel 
that  to  her,  Keziah  Coffin,  more  than  anyone  else, 
they  owed  their  great  joy.  Some  of  the  things  they 
said  she  would  never  forget.  And  her  own  life,  too, 
was  freed  forever  of  its  burden,  the  secret  which  had 
hung  over  her  for  so  many  years.  Only  a  very  few 
knew  that  secret,  and  they  would  not  disclose  it. 

378 


PARSON    PREACHES    ONCE    MORE 

Toward  the  memory  of  the  man  buried  in  the  stran 
ger's  lot  at  the  cemetery  she  felt  almost  kindly  now. 
While  he  lived  she  had  feared  and  dreaded  him,  now 
she  was  beginning  to  forgive.  For  he  had  paid  his 
debt  with  his  life,  and  with  her,  beside  her,  was  the 
other,  the  one  whom  she  had  loved,  had  given  up,  had 
mourned  for,  and  who  was  now  to  be  hers  always. 
No  wonder  Keziah  looked  well.  She  was  happy, 
and  happiness  is  a  wondrous  beautifier. 

The  minister  went  up  the  stairs  to  the  pulpit. 
He  was  still  white  and  thin,  but  his  eyes  were  bright 
and  his  voice  clear.  He  gave  out  the  opening  hymn 
and  the  service  began. 

They  said  it  was  the  finest  sermon  ever  preached 
in  that  church,  and  perhaps  it  was.  When  it  was 
over,  before  the  benediction  was  pronounced,  Ellery 
stepped  out  from  behind  the  pulpit  to  the  edge  of  the 
platform.  He  looked  over  the  friendly  faces  up 
turned  to  his  and,  for. an  instant,  it  seemed  that  he 
could  not  trust  himself  to  speak. 

"  My  friends,"  he  said,  "  I  cannot  let  you  go 
without  a  personal  word.  I  owe  you  so  much,  all  of 
you,  that  nothing  I  can  say  will  convey  to  you  my 
feeling  of  gratitude  and  love  for  this  congregation 
and  this  church.  You  have  stood  by  me  all  through. 
You  trusted  me  and  believed  in  me.  I  came  to  Tru- 
met  a  stranger.  I  have  found  here  the  truest  friends 
a  man  could  hope  to  find — yes,  and  more  than 
friends.  If  I  live,  and  while  I  live,  I  shall  hope  to 
prove  by  the  best  effort  that  is  in  me  my  realization 
of  the  great  debt  I  owe  you  and  my  desire  to 
repay  it,  even  though  the  payment  must,  of  necessity, 
be  so  inadequate.  God  bless  you  all — and  thank 
you." 

379 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"Wa'n't  it  lovely!"  gushed  Didama.  "And 
when  he  said  that  about  true  friends  he  was  lookin' 
straight  at  Gracie  all  the  time." 

"  Didn't  seem  to  me  so,"  declared  Gaius  Win- 
slow.  "  I  thought  he  was  lookin'  at  Cap'n  Ham 
mond." 

"  Well,  now,  that's  queer,"  put  in  Mrs.  Parker, 
the  doctor's  wife.  "  I  would  have  sworn  he  was  look 
ing  at  Keziah  Coffin." 

Captain  Zebedee  grinned.  "  I  cal'late  you're  all 
right,"  he  observed.  "  I  wouldn't  wonder  if  he  was 
lookin'  at  all  of  'em." 

There  was  much  hand  shaking  and  congratulation 
and  the  church  emptied  slowly.  Among  the  last  to 
leave  were  the  Peppers  and  Mr.  Pratt.  Lavinia  took 
the  minister  aside. 

"  Mr.  Ellery,"  she  simpered,  "  I've — that  is, 
Caleb  and  me — will  prob'ly  want  you  to —  That  is, 
we  want  you  to  be  the  one — 

'Yes,  Miss  Pepper?" 

"Oh,  my  sakes!  you  see —  'Bishy  dear,  come 
here  a  minute,  won't  you?  " 

Kyan  approached,  the  picture  of  desolation. 

"What  do  you  want?"  he  asked  gruffly. 

"Heavens  to  Betsy!  Don't  look  so  sour.  A 
body'd  think  you  was  goin'  to  be  hung,  to  look  at 
you.  'Bishy,  you  tell  Mr.  Ellery  all  about  it,  there's 
a  dear.  He'll  tell  you,  Mr.  Ellery;  and  remember 
we  count  on  you.  Neither  me  nor  Caleb  wont  have 
nobody  else." 

She  seized  Mr.  Pratt  by  the  arm  and  led  him 
hastily  away.  Kyan  looked  after  them. 

"Hung?"  he  muttered.  "I  wish,  by  godfreys 
mighty,  I  had  the  hangin'  of  some  folks!  I'd  put 

380 


PARSON    PREACHES    ONCE    MORE 

a  tighter  collar  on  'em  than  they've  got  now,  /  bet 
you !  " 

The  minister's  lips  twitched.  He  knew  what  was 
coming.  Hints  of  a  surprising  nature  had  been  cir 
culating  about  Trumet. 

"  What's  the  matter,  Mr.  Pepper?  "  he  asked. 

"Matter?  Matter  enough!  You  know  what 
she's  goin'  to  do  ?  She's  goin'  to  marry  that!  " 

The  last  word  was  emphasized  by  a  furious  ges 
ticulation  toward  the  back  of  the  gentleman  from 
Sandwich. 

"Who?  Mr.  Pratt?  Is  your  sister  to  marry 
him  ?  Indeed !  I  congratulate  them  both  —  and 
you." 

"  Me?  What  in  tunket — I  ask  your  pardon, 
Mr.  Ellery,  for  talkin'  so  in  the  meetin'  house — but 
what  are  you  congratulatin'  me  for?  " 

'  Why,  because  your  sister  is  to  have  a  good 
husband;  at  least  people  speak  highly  of  him." 

"Ugh!" 

"  And  because — well,  Mr.  Pepper,  you  have 
been  quite  confidential  with  me;  we  have  shared 
secrets,  you  know;  and  I  thought  possibly  the  new 
arrangement  might  make  it  a  bit  more  pleasant  for 
you." 

"Pleasant?     How?" 

"  I  suppose  Mr.  Pratt  will  take  his  bride  home  to 
Sandwich,  and  you,  being  here  alone,  will  be  more 
free." 

"Free?"  Kyan  repeated  the  word  wrathfully. 
"  Free!  I'll  be  about  as  free  as  a  settin'  hen  under 
a  barrel,  I  will.  Is  a  feller  free  when  he's  got  two 
pickin'  at  him  instead  of  one?  I  thought  I  was  goin' 
to  have  a  little  peace  and  comfort;  I  thought  that 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

same  as  you,  Mr.  Ellery.  I've  had  my  suspicions  as 
to  her  and  him  for  some  time.  That  day  when  I 
cal'lated  I'd  locked  her  up  and  come  back  to  find 
she'd  gone  buggy  ridin',  I  thought  'twas  queer. 
When  she  went  to  conference  and  left  me  alone  I 
smelt  a  rat.  When  she  took  to  letter  writin'  the 
smell  got  stronger;  until  the  last  few  weeks  I've  been 
sartin  of  the  game  she  was  up  to.  And  I  never  com 
plained,  no  sir!  Some  brothers  would  have  ripped 
up  the  eternal  foundations  afore  they'd  have  let  their 
sister  break  up  their  home  and  desert  'em  for  a  stiff- 
necked,  bald-headed  old  shoe  peddler  like — 
"  Hush !  hush  !  Mr.  Pepper.  You  forget— 
"  No,  I  don't  forget,  nuther.  Mr.  Ellery,  you 
don't  know  it  all.  When  Laviny  come  to  me  and 
told  me  what  she  was  goin'  to  do,  was  I  obstinate? 
Did  I  stand  on  my  rights  as  head  of  the  family  and 
tell  her  she  couldn't  do  it?  No,  sir-ee,  I  didn't!  I 
was  resigned.  I  says  to  her,  '  Laviny,'  I  says,  '  I 
won't  say  that  I  shan't  be  tumble  lonesome  without 
you.  I  won't  say  that  I  ain't  sort  of  shocked  and 
grieved  at  our  partin'  after  all  these  years.  But 
what's  my  personal  feelin's  when  I  compare  'em  with 
your  happiness?  Nothin',  nothin'  at  all!'  I  says. 
'  Bless  you,  Laviny,'  says  I.  '  When  you  goin'  to  go 
away?'  And  what  do  you  s'pose  she  says  to  me? 
Why,  that  she  wa'n't  goin'  away  at  all.  That — that 
Pratt  thing  has  sold  out  his  shoe  store  up  to  Sand 
wich  and  is  comin'  here  to  live.  Comin'  to  live  at 
our  house,  mind  you,  with  her  and  with  me!  '  'Twill 
be  so  nice  for  you,  'Bishy  dear,'  she  says,  '  to  have  a 
man  in  the  house  to  keep  you  comp'ny  and  look  out 
for  you  when  I  ain't  round.'  Godfreys  mighty !  " 
This  portion  of  Kyan's  disclosure  was  surprising, 
382 


PARSON    PREACHES    ONCE    MORE 

if  the  announcement  of  his  sister's  engagement  was 
not. 

"  Mr.  Pratt  is  coming  to  Trumet?  "  the  minister 
repeated.  "What  for?  What  is  he  going  to  do 
here?" 

"  Keep  shoe  store,  I  s'pose  likely.  Laviny  says 
there's  a  good  openin'  for  one  in  this  town.  I  told 
her  the  best  openin'  I  could  think  of  for  him  was  the 
well  and  I  hoped  to  the  nation  he'd  fall  into  it.  Then 
she  went  for  me  like  a  dogfish  after  a  herrin'  and  I 
never  had  a  taste  of  vittles  till  I'd  took  it  all  back  and 
said  I  was  glad  he  was  goin'  to  live  with  us.  Free ! 
Don't  talk  to  me  about  freedom !  Godfreys 
mighty!  " 

Ellery  smothered  his  desire  to  laugh  and  ex 
pressed  sympathy.  Abishai  listened  in  sullen  silence. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  turning  to  go,  "  I  ain't  goin'  to 
stand  it,  if  I  can  help  it.  I've  been  doin'  some  think- 
in'  on  my  own  account  and  there's  two  ways  of  get- 
tin'  even.  That  Caleb  critter  is  marryin'  into  our 
family  'cause  he  knows  I'm  well  off.  I'll  cheat  him, 
by  godfreys!  I'll  will  every  cent  of  my  fifteen  hun 
dred  dollars  to  the  poor  or  the  heathen  or  somethin'. 
I  will,  sure's  taxes." 

The  minister  was  obliged  to  laugh,  then. 

"  I  wouldn't  do  that,"  he  said.  "  From  what  I 
hear,  Mr.  Pratt  is  worth  several  times  fifteen  hun 
dred." 

"  I  know  it;  but  he's  so  dum  mean  that  'twould 
break  his  heart  to  see  even  ten  cents  gettin'  away 
from  him.  However,  that  ain't  my  only  plan.  He 
and  Laviny  ain't  got  any  mortgage  on  the  marryin' 
business.  Other  folks  can  do  it  as  well  as  them. 
What  do  you  think  of  Hannah  Poundberry?" 

383 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

"What  do  I  think  of  her?  What  do  you 
mean?  " 

"  Never  mind  what  I  mean.  Just  you  keep  that 
in  your  head,  Mr.  Ellery.  You  remember  that  I 
asked  you,  as  man  to  man,  '  What  do  you  think  of 
Hannah  Poundberry? '-— Yes,  yes,  Laviny,  I'm 
a-comin'.  They  want  me  to  ask  you  to  marry  'em," 
he  added.  "  I  s'pose  you'll  have  to.  But  say,  Mr. 
Ellery,  when  you  do,  just  tell  Pratt  that  your  usual 
price  for  the  job  is  ten  dollars.  That'll  spile  his 
honeymoon  for  him,  or  I  miss  my  guess." 

He  turned  away  and  moved  sulkily  toward  his 
beckoning  sister  and  her  escort;  but  wheeled  once 
more  to  add,  in  a  mysterious  whisper,  "  Don't  you 
forget  now,  Mr.  Ellery.  Remember  that  question  I 
put  to  you :  '  What  do  you  think  of  '-  —Yes,  yes,  La 
viny,  I  hear  you  ! — of  you  know  who  ?  ' 

That  evening,  at  the  parsonage,  Keziah  was 
clearing  the  table  and  Captain  Nat  was  helping  her. 
A  happy  party  of  four  had  enjoyed  the  meal,  John 
and  Mrs.  Coffin  acting  as  hosts  and  Grace  and  the 
captain  being  the  invited  guests.  Now  the  younger 
couple  had  gone  over  to  the  church,  the  bell  of  which 
wras  ringing  for  evening  service. 

"  Hurry  up,  Keziah,"  urged  Nat.  "  If  you  and 
me  don't  get  decks  cleared  pretty  soon  we'll  be  late 
for  meetin',  and  I'd  hate  to  do  that,  considerin'  I'm 
such  a  brand-new  disciple,  as  you  might  say.  What 
do  we  do  next,  shorten  sail?  Like  this,  hey?" 

He  pulled  the  cloth  from  the  table,  sending  the 
crumbs  flying  in  all  directions,  and  proceeded  to  fold 
it,  after  a  fashion. 

'There!"  he  exclaimed  with  satisfaction; 
384 


PARSON    PREACHES    ONCE    MORE 

"  there  she  is,  canvas  furled  and  under  bare  poles. 
Now  we  can  clear  out,  can't  we?  What's  the  mat 
ter?  " 

Keziah  took  the  cloth  from  his  hands  and  re 
folded  it. 

"  Nat  Hammond,"  she  said,  laughing,  "  you  may 
be  a  good  sailor,  but  you're  an  awful  poor  house 
keeper.  Look  at  the  mess  you've  made  of  that 
floor." 

Nat  looked  at  the  scattered  crumbs  and  shook  his 
head. 

"  By  the  everlastin' !  "  he  observed,  "  I  did  make 
dirty  weather  on  that  tack,  didn't  I?  Cal'late  I  ain't 
much  of  a  housekeeper,  same  as  you  say.  Maybe 
that's  why  I  was  so  dreadful  anxious  to  get  a  good 
one  to  cruise  along  with  me.  Well,  I've  got  her. 
I'm  satisfied." 

He  walked  to  the  back  door  of  the  kitchen, 
threw  it  open,  and  stood  looking  out. 

"  Keziah,"  he  said,   "  come  here  a  minute." 

She  came  from  the  dining  room  and  stood  at  his 
side.  He  put  an  arm  about  her. 

"  Look  off  there,"  he  said,  pointing  with  his  free 
hand.  See  that?  " 

The  sun  was  just  setting  and  all  the  west  was 
gorgeous  with  crimson  and  purple  and  yellow.  The 
bay  was  spangled  with  fire,  the  high  sand  bluffs  along 
the  shore  looked  like  broken  golden  ingots.  The 
fields  and  swamps  and  salt  meadows,  rich  in  their 
spring  glory  of  bud  and  new  leaf,  were  tinged  with 
the  ruddy  glow.  The  Trumet  roofs  were  bathed  in 
it,  the  old  packet,  asleep  at  her  moorings  by  the 
breakwater,  was  silhouetted  against  the  radiance. 
The  church  bell  had  ceased  to  ring  and  there 

385 


KEZIAH    COFFIN 

was  not  a  sound,  except  the  low  music  of  the  distant 
surf. 

"  Look  at  it,  Keziah,"  urged  Captain  Nat. 

"  I'm  lookin',  Nat,"  she  answered.  "  It's  beau 
tiful." 

"  Ain't  it?  I  love  it,  you  know  that,  and  I  never 
thought  I  should  be  anxious  for  the  time  to  come 
when  I  must  leave  it.  But  I  am.  I  want  to  go." 

They  were  to  be  married  in  another  month.  It 
would  be  a  double  wedding,  for  Grace  and  the  min 
ister  were  to  be  married  at  the  same  time.  Then 
Nat  and  his  wife  were  to  go  to  New  York,  where  a 
new  ship,  just  out  of  the  builders'  hands,  was  to  be 
ready  for  him.  She  was  a  fine  one,  this  successor  to 
the  Sea  Mist.  She  had  been  building  for  more  than 
a  year  and  when  Captain  Hammond  returned,  safe 
and  sound,  and  with  their  money  in  his  possession, 
the  owners  decided  at  once  that  he  should  command 
the  addition  to  their  fleet.  She  was  to  sail  for  Liver 
pool  and  Keziah  was  to  be  a  passenger. 

"  I  can't  hardly  wait  to  get  to  sea,"  went  on  Nat. 
'Think  of  it!  No  more  lonesome  meals  in  the 
cabin,  thinkin'  about  you  and  about  home.  No,  sir! 
you  and  home'll  be  right  aboard  with  me.  Think 
of  the  fun  we'll  have  in  the  foreign  ports.  London, 
and  you  and  me  goin'  sightseein'  through  it!  And 
Havre  and  Gibraltar  and  Marseilles  and  Genoa  and 
— and — by  and  by,  Calcutta  and  Hong  Kong  and 
Singapore.  I've  seen  'em  all,  of  course,  but  you 
haven't.  I  tell  you,  Keziah,  that  time  when  I  first 
saw  a  real  hope  of  gettin'  you,  that  time  after  I'd 
learned  from  John  that  that  big  trouble  of  yours  was 
out  of  the  way  forever,  on  my  way  up  to  Boston  in 
the  cars  I  made  myself  a  promise — I  swore  that  if 

386 


PARSON    PREACHES    ONCE    MORE 

'you  did  say  yes  to  me  I'd  do  my  best  to  make  the  rest 
of  your  life  as  smooth  and  pleasant  as  the  past  so 
far  had  been  rough.  I  ain't  rich  enough  to  give  you 
what  you  deserve,  nowhere  near;  but  I'll  work  hard 
and  do  my  best,  my  girl — you  see." 

Keziah  was  looking  out  over  the  bay,  her  eyes 
brighter  than  the  sunset.  Now  she  turned  to  look  up 
into  his  face. 

''  Rich !  "  she  repeated,  with  a  little  catch  in  her 
voice.  "  Rich !  there  never  was  a  woman  in  this 
world  so  rich  as  I  am  this  minute.  Or  so  happy, 
either." 


(i) 


THE    END 


By  DAVID  GRAHAM  PHILLIPS. 
The  Second  Generation. 

Illustrated.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

"The  Second  Generation"  is  a  double-decked  romance 
in  one  volume,  telling  the  two  love-stories  of  a  young 
American  and  his  sister,  reared  in  luxury  and  suddenly  left 
without  means  by  their  father,  who  felt  that  money  was 
proving  their  ruination  and  disinherited  them  for  their  own 
sakes.  Their  struggle  for  life,  love  and  happiness  makes  a 
powerful  love-story  of  the  middle  West. 

"The  book  equals  the  best  of  the  great  story  tellers  of  all 
time." — Cleveland  Plain  Dealer. 

" '  The  Second  Generation,'  by  David  Graham  Phillips,  is  not 
only  the  most  important  novel  of  the  new  year,  but  it  is  one  of  the 
most  important  ones  of  a  number  of  years  past." 

— Philadelphia  Inquirer. 

"A  thoroughly  American  book  is  'The  Second  Generation.' 
,  .  .  The  characters  are  drawn  with  force  and  discrimination." 

— St.  Louis  Globe  Democrat. 

"Mr.  Phillips'  book  is  thoughtful,  well  conceived,  admirably 
written  and  intensely  interesting.  The  story  'works  out'  well, 
and  though  it  is  made  to  sustain  the  theory  of  the  writer  it  does 
so  in  a  very  natural  and  stimulating  manner.  In  the  writing  of  the 
J  problem  novel '  Mr.  Phillips  has  won  a  foremost  place  among  our 
younger  American  authors." — Boston  Herald. 

" '  The  Second  Generation '  promises  to  become  one  of  the  nota- 
ble  novels  of  the  year.  It  will  be  read  and  discussed  while  a  less 
vigorous  novel  will  be  forgotten  within  a  week." 

— Springfield  Union. 

"  David  Graham  Phillips  has  a  way,  a  most  clever  and  convinc 
ing  way,  of  cutting  through  the  veneer  of  snobbishness  and  bringing 
real  men  and  women  to  the  surface.  He  strikes  at  shams,  yet  has 
a  wholesome  belief  in  the  people  behind  them,  and  he  forces  them 
to  justify  his  good  opinions." — Kansas  City  Times. 

D.     APPLETON     AND     COMPANY,     NEW    YORK. 


NOVELS  BY  ROBERT  W.  CHAMBERS. 


SPECIAL  MESSENGER.     Illustrated.     I2mo.     Cloth,  $1.50. 
A  romantic  love  story  of  a  woman  spy  in  the  Civil  War. 

THE  FIRING  LINE.    Illustrated.     I2mo.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

"  The  tale  is  rich  in  vivid  descriptions,  pleasing  incidents,  effective  situations, 
human  interest  and  luxurious  scenic  effects.  It  is  a  story  to  be  remembered." 

—  Grand  Rapids  Herald. 

THE  YOUNGER  SET.    Illustrated.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

"The  Younger  Set"  is  a  novel  of  the  swirl  of  wealthy  New  York  society. 
The  hero,  forced  out  of  the  army  by  domestic  troubles,  returns  to  New  York 
homeless  and  idle.  He  finds  a  beautiful  girl  who  promises  ideal  happiness. 
But  new  complications  intervene  and  are  described  with  what  the  New  York 
Sun  calls  Mr.  Chambers'  "  amazing  knack  of  narrative." 

THE  FIGHTING  CHANCE.     Illustrated.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

One  of  the  most  brilliant  pictures  of  wealthy  American  society  ever  painted; 
one  of  the  most  interesting  and  appealing  stories  ever  written  ;  one  of  the  most 
widely  read  of  all  American  novels. 

SOME  LADIES  IN  HASTE.     Illustrated.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

Mr.  Chambers  has  written  most  delightfully,  and  in  his  charming  satire 
depicts  the  plight  of  five  society  girls  and  five  clubmen. 

IOLE.    Illustrated.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

"Think  of  eight  pretty  girls  in  pink  silk  pajamas  and  sunbonnets,  brought 
up  in  innocence  in  a  scientific  Eden,  with  a  'House  Beautiful'  in  the  back 
ground,  and  a  poetical  father  in  the  foreground.  Think  again  of  those  rose- 
petalled  creations  turned  loose  upon  New  York  society  and  then  enjoy  the  fun 
of  it  all  in  '  lole.1  " — Boston  Herald. 

THE  TRACER  OF  LOST  PERSONS.    Illustrated.    Cloth,  $1.50. 

The  captivating  account  of  the  strangely  absorbing  adventures  of  a  "  matri 
monial  sleuth,"  "a  deputy  of  Cupid." 

"Compared  with  him  Sherlock  Holmes  is  clumsy  and  without  human 
emotions. " — Chicago  Inter-Ocean. 

THE  TREE  OF  HEAVEN.    Illustrated.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

If  you  looked  squarely  into  a  mirror  and  saw  your  PROFILE  instead  of 
your  full  face,  if  you  suddenly  found  yourself  25  miles  away  from  yourself, 
you  would  be  in  one  of  the  tantalizing  situations  that  give  fascination  to  this 
charming  book. 

THE  RECKONING.    Illustrated.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

A  story  of  northern  New  York  during  the  last  fierce  fights  between  Tories 
and  Revolutionaries  and  the  Iroquois  Indians,  by  which  tribe  the  hero  had 
been  adopted. 

"It  would  be  but  an  unresponsive  American  that  would  not  thrill  to  such 
relations." — New  York  Times. 

D.     APPLETON     AND     COMPANY,     NEW     YORK. 


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